5 Insects Without Eyes (List)

There’s no shortage of blind animals in nature, which is incredible because these animals manage to survive just fine. You probably know how bats have become the poster boy for blindness, and yet they can fly about with no problem. There are also many other blind animals, like moles and salamanders that have adapted to life without eyes.

But, did you know? Insects can be blind too! By insects, we mean those typically small animals with six legs, two compound eyes, two antennae, a head, thorax, and abdomen.

In all instances where a new species of blind insect is discovered, you find that these insects only live in the darkest of environments, such as caves. Also, some small, blind insects live in leaf litter, where little light penetrates. Read on to discover the different types of fascinating, eyeless creatures known to man.

Springtails

Springtails are so-called because they move around by leaping, which they can do using some kind of spring on their body. These eyeless, wingless insects are ancient and primitive, so they have been around for a long time.

There are many types of species of springtail, and those that have evolved to have a significant reduction in eyes live in soil or underground. Generally, springtails feed on decomposing material, bacteria, and fungi.

A few years ago, a new species of springtail known as Plutomurus ortobalaganensis was discovered. This insect now holds the title of the deepest terrestrial animal on Earth. It was discovered nearly 2000 meters below the surface of a cave entrance during an expedition in 2010. The insect lives in a cave called Krubera-Voronja, located in Abkhazia, a far-off place near the Black Sea.

The insects were collected and studied, and besides the observation that P. ortobalaganensis had no eyes, it was also noted that the creature had long antennae. Its grayish body was covered in dark spots. It’s not hard to see why P. ortobalaganensis evolved to be eyeless, seeing that it resides in lightless caves.

It makes sense that the insect does not need eyes while living deep underground in the total absence of light. However, the springtail … Read the rest of the story.

from Nature Nibble https://ift.tt/051DIL4