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These small (approximately 1/4 inch) generalist predators are common in many different rural and urban landscapes. They prey on a variety of insect eggs, mites, aphids, and other small prey if the opportunity arises. In all stages of life they are active searching predators, but will occasionally feed on plants. Once these bugs have found a meal they insert their needle sharp beak, inject digestive enzymes, then suck up the partially digested insides of their prey. They are not known for biting people though.
Small (approximately 1/4 inch); wide head that gives the big-eyed appearance; antennae arising close together in the lower middle of the “face”; lack of triangular plates (“cuneus”) on the front wings (compared to plant bugs); antennae have four segments, compared to five for stink bugs.
Smaller than adults, with the same body shape and features, but without wings, and often a lighter color.
Bugs with large, prominent eyes are a common sight in nature. Their oversized peepers not only give them a distinctive appearance but serve important functions related to their survival. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common and interesting bugs with big eyes.
Why Do Some Bugs Have Such Big Eyes?
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Insects have compound eyes made up of hundreds or thousands of tiny individual visual receptors called ommatidia,
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Species active during dawn, dusk or nighttime tend to have larger eyes to maximize light capture.
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Predatory bugs rely on excellent eyesight to spot prey. Their eyes are bigger for improved visual acuity.
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Bulging eyes give bugs a wide field of vision to detect threats. Some can see nearly 360 degrees around them.
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Large reflective eyes may startle predators or give the illusion of a larger creature.
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Fake “eyespots” on wings or bodies can deter predators. Caterpillars and butterflies often have these.
So in short, big bug eyes serve important purposes related to navigation, hunting, predator avoidance and all-round survival. Their enlarged eyes are an evolutionary adaptation to the insect’s lifestyle and environment.
5 Bugs With Truly Big Eyes
Here are 5 common insects with very large, prominent real eyes:
1. Big-Eyed Bugs
True to their name, big-eyed bugs in the Geocoris genus have eyes that bulge out the sides of their heads. The eyes are often actually wider than the head itself!
Over 100 species of big-eyed bugs exist. They are small, oval bugs about 1/8 to 1/4 inches long. Their diet consists of mites, insect eggs, and other tiny arthropods.
2. Dragonflies
Dragonflies have absolutely massive compound eyes. Each eye is made up of up to 30,000 ommatidia. This gives them incredible visual acuity.
Their eyes span across nearly the entire head and give them a 360-degree view for detecting prey and predators. The eyes may be metallic shades of green, blue, yellow or red.
3. Praying Mantises
The praying mantis’ triangular head is dominated by its two large, globular compound eyes. They provide these predatory insects with excellent 3D vision to accurately judge distances when grabbing prey.
Different mantis species may have eyes in colors ranging from green to tan or pink. For example, the orchid mantis has bright pink eyes that match its pink body.
4. House Flies
Common house flies have bright red eyes that take up most of their head. The eyes help flies quickly find food sources and suitable places to lay their eggs.
Interestingly, male and female house flies can be differentiated by their eyes. Male eyes are closer together while female eyes are spaced wider apart.
5. Robber Flies
Robber flies get their name from their aerial hunting skills. They have very large eyes to zone in on flying prey. Their eyes may be so big that they occupy the entire head.
These predatory insects have a hairy, bristly appearance. Large depressions are visible between their bulging eyes. Robber flies mainly hunt other types of flies.
Bugs With Fake “Eyes”
Some insects and their larvae have markings that look uncannily like eyes. These “eyespots” are thought to deter predators by making the creature seem larger or distracting from their head. Here are some bugs with prominent fake eyes:
Click Beetles
Eyed click beetles have distinctive black circular spots rimmed with white on their backs. These eyespots are an example of self-mimicry of their real eyes to confuse predators. Click beetles snap their bodies to flip themselves if threatened.
Butterflies
Butterflies like peacocks and owls have vivid eyespots in shades of blue, yellow, orange and more on their wings. When at rest, the eyespots are hidden. In flight, they suddenly appear and may startle birds and other predators.
Moths
Like butterflies, many moths have elaborate eyespots on their wings. Some species like the squinting bush brown have up to 20 fake eyes of varying sizes. Their wings may flash these eyespots when disturbed.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars use eyespots to make themselves appear intimidating. Spicebush swallowtails have blue, brown and yellow fake eyes along their bodies. Hawkmoth caterpillars can inflate parts with eyespots.
So in the insect world, eyes come in all shapes and sizes – both real and fake! Their enlarged eyes provide excellent vision while fake eyespots deter predators. No matter their purpose, bugs with big eyes remain fascinating examples of natural selection.
Value in Pest Management
Geocoris predators are found in a variety of agricultural and landscape habitats where they contribute to natural control of a variety of small insects and other arthropods such as mites. They are common in turf grass where they feed on chinch bugs, sod webworms, and other pests. They are available commercially for management of aphids, caterpillars, and mites (see BIRC online Directory).
Native, throughout eastern North America.
What insects zoomed in looks like #shorts
FAQ
What is a bug with big eyes?
The beetle Alaus oculatus is commonly referred to as the Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The click beetles are the acrobats of the insect world in that if they are turned over on their back they are able to flip themselves in the air and land on their feet.
Are big eyed click beetles harmful?
Most of the time these beetles are harmless, though the larvae can damage crops. As a result, some people consider them a nuisance. There are thousands of species of click beetles. Some are relatively plain, while others have intricate patterns or glow at night.
How do you identify a big eyed bug?
Identification. Bigeyed bug adults and nymphs (immatures) are oval and commonly black, brownish, gray, or reddish. They have a wide head with bulging eyes and prominent antennae. Adults range from about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3–6 mm) long.
Are Eastern eyed click beetles good or bad in the house?
Although they have strong mandibles and can give a sharp bite if not handled carefully, eyed click beetles are neither pests nor beneficials.
Do some bugs have big eyes?
Some bugs have big eyes, often making them appear disproportionately large compared to their body size. Big eyes are specific to the world of bugs. Some bugs even have fake eyes. These fake eyes serve a defense-orientated purpose and are seen on a few common species. Many predators move away from these bugs when seeing their large or fake eyes.
What causes itchy eyes?
The causes of itchy eyes are exposure to dust particles, pollen, grains, eyeliner, animal fur, and mold. Other causes are conjunctivitis or inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacteria or viruses. Itchy eyes can also be caused by contact lenses, adverse reactions to certain medicines, allergic conjunctivitis, foreign bodies in the eye, and a condition called Sjogren’s syndrome. The symptoms are itchy, red, and watery eyes.
Which bugs have large eyespots?
The Eyed Click Beetles are one of the bugs with large eyespots that look like eyes. They are native to Central to South America and can be spotted around various plants as they mostly feed on nectar. This white and black beetle has large eyespots right on its cephalothorax.
Are big-eyed bugs considered pests?
Big-eyed Bugs are often misunderstood due to their presence on crops and in gardens. Although their presence may be taken as a potential pest problem, most Big-eyed Bugs are actual predators. They rely on their large eyes to spot different types of pests they feed on.
What is a big-eyed bug?
The most common big-eyed true bug include species belonging to the Geocoris species and is known commonly as “the big-eyed bug” because of its large, compound eyes. The bugs are found throughout the United States and are valued as predators of mites and insect pests that destroy lawns, gardens and crops.
What does a big eyed bug look like?
Adult big-eyed bugs are small (about 3 mm (0.12 in)) black, gray, or tan with proportionately large eyes. Eggs are deposited singly or in clusters on leaves near potential prey. They develop with incomplete metamorphosis (there is no pupa) and take approximately 30 days to develop from egg to adult depending on temperature.