Facet
A compound eye is made up of many individual ommatidia. Each ommatidia has a hexagonal face which, together, all form the surface of the compound eye. It is this individual ommatidium face that is called a facet.
A scanning electron micrograph of the facets within the compound eye of a fruit fly (Drosophila sp.).
Photograph by Louisa Howard, Dartmouth College.
Other names for (or types of) Facet include:
- Corneal facet
Related terms
Related groups of terms
Back to Glossary
If you have found this glossary useful please consider supporting the Amateur Entomologists' Society by becoming a member or making a donation.