Compound eye

The compound eye is one of two different visual organs in insects. The eye is made up of individual parts known as ommatidia and each possessing an individual lens. The compound eye does not produce a visually sharp image but gives a wide field of view and is very good at detecting movement.

A photograph of the head of a Black Tailed Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum cancellatum) showing the large compound eye.

Related terms

• Abdomen
• Facet
• Fovea
• Head
• Ocelli
• Ommatidia

Related groups of terms

• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Insect body structure

See other words beginning with C