Abstract
The aim of this review is to explain the functional significance of mantis peering behaviour from an entomological perspective. First the morphological and optical features of the mantis compound eye that are important for spatial vision are described. The possibility that praying-mantises use binocular retinal disparity (stereopsis) and other alternative visual cues for determining distance in prey capture, are discussed. The primary focus of the review is the importance of peering movements for estimating the distance to stationary objects. Here the following aspects are examined: (1) Direct evidence via object manipulation experiments of absolute distance estimation with the aid of self-induced retinal image motion; (2) the mechanism of absolute distance estimation (with the interaction of visual and proprioceptive information); (3) the range of absolute and relative distance estimation; (4) the influence of target object features on distance estimation; and (5) the relationship between peering behaviour and habitat structures, based on results of studies on three species of mantis.
Highlights
In the course of evolution, most mantis have developed from active hunters that pursue prey to predators that lie in wait to ambush prey
The compound eyes of most mantis studied, from early nymphs to adults, are relatively large, since vision is of primary importance
Each ommatidium is optically isolated from the other ommatidia
Summary
In the course of evolution, most mantis have developed from active hunters that pursue prey to predators that lie in wait to ambush prey. Each ommatidium is optically isolated from the other ommatidia (approximately 4,000 ommatidia in early nymphs, or 9,000 in adults) This eye morphology serves to increase spatial resolution (Horridge & Duelli, 1979; Rossel, 1979; Köck, 1992). Only incident light that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of an ommatidium is perceived by its eight photoreceptor cells. Mantises have a round acute zone with high spatial resolution, with inter-ommatidial angles of about 2° in early nymphs and less than 1° in adults in the medio-frontal part of the compound eyes (Barros-Pita & Maldonado, 1970; Maldonado & Barros-Pita, 1970; Horridge & Duelli, 1979; Rossel, 1979; Leitinger, 1994). This includes a forward-looking binocular field (viewed by both eyes simultaneously) with a horizontal extension of about 40° in early nymphs and up to 70° in adults (Rossel, 1979; Köck, 1992; Köck et al, 1993; Prete et al, 2011)
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