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Sunday, September 24, 2017

Love Seeing Insect Articles in Major Newspapers!

Interesting article in NY Times about mantis bird predation and hunting behaviors.

Birds Beware: The Praying Mantis Wants Your Brain - The New York Times


Mentions the cool way mantises always seem to be looking at you, but doesn't explain that's because of the pseudopupil effect. The 'pupil' or black spot in the mantis (and some other insects') compound eyes is formed by the ommatidia (single components of the compound eye) absorbing light as viewed straight on. So the 'pupil', as we anthropomorphize it, follows the observer.

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