How Many Eyes Does a Bumble Bee Have?
Mar 28, 2017 10:52:21 #
Once again my DIY efforts were interrupted by an insect. This time a Bubble Bee on the stairs struggling to warm up. All thoughts of painting abandoned while I assembled my gear and tried to to get it to pose.
The problem was that by the time I was ready it was starting to wander quite quickly and would not stay still long enough for me to get a decent picture (made me realise how fantastic Brenda's bee in flight picture was). My solution was to place the bee outside in the cold on my windowsill, let it cool down for a few minutes then bring it back in for a couple of pictures repeating the exercise once it started to get active. I hope this is not deemed cruel although at one point I was a little concerned as it appeared to drop it's head resting it nose on the ground. I was tempted to put it in the fridge but was not sure how long I could leave it there without harming it.
How many eyes does a bumble bee have? This is what macro photography about, having the wonders of nature revealed in minute detail. Are the three small round things on it's, for want of a better word, forehead, eyes? giving it five or are there others I've not noticed (just like a spider). Please don't judge me but I've always assumed they only had two, but then I did think that of spiders until a few months ago.
I''ve shared the best of the bunch, hope you find them interesting as I did.
Technical data: Canon 6D, MP-E 65, F11, 1/160 sec, Diffused Flash half power.
The problem was that by the time I was ready it was starting to wander quite quickly and would not stay still long enough for me to get a decent picture (made me realise how fantastic Brenda's bee in flight picture was). My solution was to place the bee outside in the cold on my windowsill, let it cool down for a few minutes then bring it back in for a couple of pictures repeating the exercise once it started to get active. I hope this is not deemed cruel although at one point I was a little concerned as it appeared to drop it's head resting it nose on the ground. I was tempted to put it in the fridge but was not sure how long I could leave it there without harming it.
How many eyes does a bumble bee have? This is what macro photography about, having the wonders of nature revealed in minute detail. Are the three small round things on it's, for want of a better word, forehead, eyes? giving it five or are there others I've not noticed (just like a spider). Please don't judge me but I've always assumed they only had two, but then I did think that of spiders until a few months ago.
I''ve shared the best of the bunch, hope you find them interesting as I did.
Technical data: Canon 6D, MP-E 65, F11, 1/160 sec, Diffused Flash half power.
Mar 28, 2017 10:54:26 #
I too was surprised by the number of eyes some insects have when I started doing macro.Mar 28, 2017 11:05:48 #
It would depend on how one defines an eye. There will be over 1000 eyes if you count all the eye facets in their compound eyes. But it is not unreasonable to say they have 5 eyes, including two compound eyes and 3 simple eyes. The latter are on top of the head.
Mar 28, 2017 12:22:13 #
The three simple eyes are more for detecting shadow and movement more than discerning shape and color. They are basically defensive organs. You will find similar simple eyes on many flying insects, such as flies, wasps, grasshoppers, and mantids. Simple eyes are one reason it is difficult to sneak-up on a fly.
Mar 28, 2017 12:54:22 #
rwilson1942 wrote: I too was surprised by the number of eyes some insects have when I started doing macro.
Thanks for the thumbs up Rick it's good to know that I'm not the only one. I too was surprised by the number of eyes some insects have when I started doing macro.Mar 28, 2017 12:55:28 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Good point well made Mark, thanks for commenting.It would depend on how one defines an eye. There will be over 1000 eyes if you count all the eye facets in their compound eyes. But it is not unreasonable to say they have 5 eyes, including two compound eyes and 3 simple eyes. The latter are on top of the head.
Mar 28, 2017 12:59:06 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
Thanks for the interesting information Douglass much appreciated.The three simple eyes are more for detecting shadow and movement more than discerning shape and color. They are basically defensive organs. You will find similar simple eyes on many flying insects, such as flies, wasps, grasshoppers, and mantids. Simple eyes are one reason it is difficult to sneak-up on a fly.
Mar 28, 2017 15:31:21 #
Mar 28, 2017 17:50:21 #
EnglishBrenda wrote:
Bee last seen flying away a little shaken but unharmed. I assure you that no insects were injured in the taking of these pictures.Poor little bee, he looks to be on his last legs.
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