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Responses of Insects to Polarized Light in the Presence of Dark Reflecting Surfaces

Nature volume 182, pages 1526–1527 (1958)Cite this article

Abstract

THE ways in which arthropods, such as bees1–3, ants4,5, Diptera6, insect larvæ7, Cladocera8,9, Amphipoda10 and Decapoda11, orientate in respect to the plane of vibration of polarized light are controversial. Some authors have investigated by optical and electrophysiological means various arthropod eyes and their elements for the properties of an analyser12,13, either those of a Nicol prism or those of some internal reflexion device; whereas others have been more concerned with external visual conditions3 in which orientation to polarized light is observed, and have tried to explain it on the basis of mere brightness discrimination. The present communication has followed the latter approach and was based on the following considerations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Galton Laboratory, University College, London, W.C.1.

    H. KALMUS

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  1. H. KALMUS
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KALMUS, H. Responses of Insects to Polarized Light in the Presence of Dark Reflecting Surfaces. Nature 182, 1526–1527 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/1821526a0

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