Can Wasps See in the Dark?

Unlike honey bees, wasps are unable to see well in the dark. Their compound eyes provide a wide field of vision, but they are limited in their resolution. In addition, wasps do not have elaborate retinas, which are needed to view objects in dark environments.

To study the visual organs of nocturnal hymenopterans, the authors examined nocturnal wasps from South America. They found that some nocturnal wasps are able to see well, while others can only see at a dim level.

Nocturnal wasps have larger ocelli than diurnal wasps. This is a result of their larger body size. The larger body size allows them to maintain a higher body temperature. It is believed that these wasps use the light from the moon to navigate through dark environments.

Nocturnal wasps also rely on light from the moon to leave the nest. They fly towards light sources such as a moonlight, but they are also able to fly in dim twilight.

Nocturnal wasps are similar to diurnal wasps in their use of visual organs. However, they have developed some adaptations to allow them to see at night.

To test whether the ocelli of nocturnal wasps are specifically adapted for dim light conditions, a study was conducted using a video camera mounted on a stand. The camera was attached to a goniometer, which was tilted in defined steps of latitude.

The goniometer was positioned beneath a Canon MV650i camcorder mounted on a stand. A Leitz goniometer was positioned beneath the camera and was lined up with the dorsal-ventral axis of the wasp’s head.