Spatial resolution and optical sensitivity in the compound eyes of two common European wasps, Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris.

Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris are two common European wasps that have ecological and economic importance as a result of their artificial introduction into many different countries and environments. Their success has undoubtedly been aided by their capacity for visually guided hunting, foraging, learning and using visual cues in the context of homing and navigation. However, the visual systems of V.

Comparability of comparative toxicity: insect sensitivity to imidacloprid reveals huge variations across species but also within species.

Pesticides have been identified as major drivers of insect biodiversity loss. Thus, the study of their effects on non-pest insect species has attracted a lot of attention in recent decades. In general toxicology, the 'gold standard' to assess the toxicity of a substance is to measure mass-specific LD (i.

Acute and chronic toxicity of imidacloprid in the pollinator fly, Eristalis tenax L., assessed using a novel oral bioassay.

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid neurotoxin that remains widely used worldwide and persists in the environment, resulting in chronic exposure to non-target insects. To accurately map dose-dependent effects of such exposure across taxa, toxicological assays need to assess relevant modes of exposure across indicator species. However, due to the difficulty of these experiments, contact bioassays are most frequently used to quantify dose.

Enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity in the blue-tongued skink Tiliqua rugosa.

Despite lizards using a wide range of colour signals, the limited variation in photoreceptor spectral sensitivities across lizards suggests only weak selection for species-specific, spectral tuning of photoreceptors. Some species, however, have enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity, which probably helps with the detection of signals rich in ultraviolet and short wavelengths. In this study, we examined the visual system of Tiliqua rugosa, which has an ultraviolet/blue tongue, to gain insight into this species' visual ecology.

Spectral organization of the compound eye of a migrating nymphalid, the chestnut tiger butterfly .

Several butterflies of family Nymphalidae perform long-distance migration. Extensive studies of migration in the iconic monarch butterfly have revealed that vision plays a crucial role in migratory orientation. Differences in the migratory patterns of butterflies suggest that not all species are exposed to the same visual conditions and yet, little is known about how the visual system varies across migratory species.

Retinal topography and microhabitat diversity in a group of dragon lizards.

The well-studied phylogeny and ecology of dragon lizards and their range of visually mediated behaviors provide an opportunity to examine the factors that shape retinal organization. Dragon lizards consist of three evolutionarily stable groups based on their shelter type, including burrows, shrubs, and rocks. This allows us to test whether microhabitat changes are reflected in their retinal organization.

Spatial resolving power and spectral sensitivity of the saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, and the freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni.

Crocodilians are apex amphibious predators that occupy a range of tropical habitats. In this study, we examined whether their semi-aquatic lifestyle and ambush hunting mode are reflected in specific adaptations in the peripheral visual system. Design-based stereology and microspectrophotometry were used to assess spatial resolving power and spectral sensitivity of saltwater (Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni).