Stark trade-offs and elegant solutions in arthropod visual systems

ABSTRACT Vision is one of the most important senses for humans and animals alike. Diverse elegant specializations have evolved among insects other arthropods in response to specific visual challenges ecological needs. These are subject this Review, they best understood light physical limitations vision. For example, achieve high spatial resolution, fine sampling different directions necessary, as demonstrated by well-studied large eyes dragonflies. However, it has recently been shown that a comparatively tiny robber fly (Holcocephala) similarly resolution frontal field, despite their being fraction size those Other include ability discern colors, which relies on parallel inputs tuned spectral content. Color vision detection objects such mates, flowers oviposition sites, particularly well developed butterflies, stomatopods jumping spiders. Analogous color vision, systems many specialized polarized light, addition communication with conspecifics, can be used orientation navigation. low optical superposition compound perform well. modifications maximize photon capture involve lenses, stout photoreceptors and, suggested nocturnal bees, neural pooling information. Extreme adaptations even allow see colors at very levels or navigate using Milky Way.