Which statement is true about insect eyes?

Which statement is true about insect eyes?

• A. All insects have color vision identical to humans.
• B. Compound eyes are composed of a single lens.
• C. Ocelli are capable of high-resolution vision.
• D. Compound eyes are made up of many visual units called ommatidia that provide a wide field of view.

Answer: (D)

Insects rely on a compound eye built from many tiny units called ommatidia. Each ommatidium has its own lens and light-detecting cells, sampling a small portion of the world. When many of these units are arranged around the head, they collectively cover a wide area, giving a broad field of view and excellent motion detection. Because the image is formed by combining many separate samples, it isn’t as sharp as what you get from a single, large lens, but the trade-off is a nearly panoramic view and sensitivity to movement.

Insects don’t see exactly like humans. Color vision varies and often includes wavelengths we don’t see, such as UV. Ocelli are simple eyes that detect light intensity rather than providing high-resolution vision. And a compound eye isn’t one lens; it’s a cluster of many lenses, each contributing part of the overall image.