How Many Eyes Do Flies Have?
WouterFlies have an incredible array of eyes. They have two pairs of eyes, compound eyes and simple eyes. A compound eye is made up of two lenses, while a simple eye is made up of one. The compound eyes are located on the fly’s head in between the simple eyes. There are even some insects that have as many as three simple eyes. Scientists believe that this makes them better able to see things and move around.
However, flies don’t have the same level of resolution as humans. They also have low-resolution vision because they have small heads and only a few facets. While these facets aren’t particularly useful for sharpening vision, they do make use of a limited number of photoreceptors, which process light quickly. In comparison, humans can discern as many as 60 discrete flashes of light per second, depending on lighting conditions and the part of the retina that processes light.
To see the difference between a human’s eye and a fly’s eye, scientists must first look at how a flies’ eye perceives time. The human eye can see images at the rate of 60 flashes per second, while a fly’s flashes occur 250 times per second. It’s important to note that humans perceive time differently than most animals.
The eyes of a fly are made of many different elements. In addition to the eyeball, the fly also has many tiny lenses, or ocelli, on each side of its head. Unlike houseflies, which have just one compound eye, most insects have two sets. The wide field of vision is important for a fly because it helps it detect movement and avoid predators.
