What Can Wasps See?
Among many insects, wasps are one of the few that have compound eyes. These eyes provide an excellent range of vision. However, the resolution of these eyes makes it difficult for wasps to see well in the dark.
The compound eyes of wasps are composed of thousands of smaller eyes. The outer lens of these eyes focuses light on the sensory cells inside the eye. The inner lens is a simple lense that allows the wasp to detect light and dark.
The compound eyes of wasps also allow them to see the colors orange and yellow. However, they can’t see red.
According to a recent study, some wasps have larger simple eyes than others. This could be due to natural selection. These larger wasps would be able to see better than their smaller counterparts.
Researchers have also found that some wasps are attracted to particular colors. This color preference depends on the species and the environment. Some wasps are attracted to a variety of colors while others are attracted to just a few.
Most wasp species are generalists, meaning that they eat a variety of food. They may be attracted to the color of their host species, the color of the flowers, or even the color of their prey.
One species, the great golden digger wasp, feeds almost exclusively on katydids. They also build nests in trees and rotting wood. Some of their nests are long tubes, but they are not aggressive.