Target detection in insects: optical, neural and behavioral optimizations

•As insects are small they must optimize target visualization solutions.•Insects visually determine target suitability for efficient pursuit.•Insect target neurons display behaviorally relevant adaptations.•Compound eye optics may be beneficial for visualizing small, fast targets.

Motion vision provides important cues for many tasks. Flying insects, for example, may pursue small, fast moving targets for mating or feeding purposes, even when these are detected against self-generated optic flow. Since insects are small, with size-constrained eyes and brains, they have evolved to optimize their optical, neural and behavioral target visualization solutions. Indeed, even if evolutionarily distant insects display different pursuit strategies, target neuron physiology is strikingly similar. Furthermore, the coarse spatial resolution of the insect compound eye might actually be beneficial when it comes to detection of moving targets. In conclusion, tiny insects show higher than expected performance in target visualization tasks.

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