- Messages
- 206
- Name
- Stuart
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Stacked shots of the head of a female common clegg, Haematopota pluvialis. Canon EOS R with MP65, F4.0, ISO 4.0, 3:1. The black scale line at the top is 1mm long. 123 shots in the front view, 65 in the side view.
Horseflies have amazing eyes! The colours and patterns are caused by iridesence - like an oil film on a puddle. In this case, there is a thin, transparent layer over the surface of the eye and light rays reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of this layer interfere with each other causing the colours we see. As the dead specimen dries out, this transparent covering shrinks and its optical properties change. The colours and pattern will disappear. Within days, the eyes will become a dull, uniform red-brown!
Last edited: