Portrait of a Dolerus sawfly. These grass-feeding insects are among the first active early in the North American spring.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Eciton army ants have some of the strangest compound eyes among insects. These surface-raiding predators likely re-evolved vision from a blind, subterranean ancestor.

Armenia, Belize
Close-up photograph of a mosquito.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Magicicada periodical cicada.

Allerton Park, Illinois, USA
Magicicada sp.

Allerton Park, Illinois, USA
Xylocopa virginica carpenter bee (male).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Neivamyrmex harrisi.  Close-up of a male army ant.

Pima County, Arizona, USA
Neivamyrmex harrisi.  Close-up of a male army ant.

Pima County, Arizona, USA
Up close with the Indian jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator.  Both sets of eyes- the large compound eyes for forming images and the small trio of ocelli for judging light levels- are visible in this photo. 

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University
Up close with the Indian jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator. Both sets of eyes- the large compound eyes for forming images and the small trio of ocelli for judging light levels- are visible in this photo.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University
Up close with the Indian jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator.  Both sets of eyes- the large compound eyes for forming images and the small trio of ocelli for judging light levels- are visible in this photo. 

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University
Up close with the Indian jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator. Both sets of eyes- the large compound eyes for forming images and the small trio of ocelli for judging light levels- are visible in this photo.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013