Hornets Can Fly at Night without Obvious Adaptations of Eyes and Ocelli
Author Information
Author(s): Almut Kelber, Fredrik Jonsson, Rita Wallén, Eric Warrant, Torill Kornfeldt, Emily Baird
Primary Institution: Lund University
Hypothesis
What adaptations do we find in the eyes of hornets that are generally diurnal but can fly at night?
Conclusion
Hornets can fly in dim twilight down to light intensities of 0.001 cd/m2 without having the typical adaptations found in nocturnal insects.
Supporting Evidence
- Hornets can fly in dim light without the adaptations seen in nocturnal insects.
- Their eyes are less sensitive than those of diurnal wasps.
- Neural pooling strategies may help hornets see in low light.
Takeaway
Hornets can fly at night even though their eyes are not specially adapted for low light, relying instead on their large size and neural strategies.
Methodology
The study involved observing hornet flight activity and analyzing their eyes and ocelli using microscopy techniques.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on a limited number of nests and may not represent all hornet populations.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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