The Use of Optical Coherence Tomography to Demonstrate Dark and Light Adaptation in a Live Moth. Issue 4 (28th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berry, Simon
• Editors: Poland, Therese
• Is Part Of: Environmental entomology. Volume 51:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 643
• Page End: 648
• Publication Date: 2022-06-28
• Subjects: Lepidoptera -- superposition compound eye -- light adaptation -- pigment migration -- moth; Beneficial insects -- Periodicals; Beneficial insects -- United States -- Periodicals; Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvac044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0046-225X

Abstract

Abstract: To work effectively, the eyes of nocturnal insects have a problem they must overcome. During the night, the light levels are low, so their eyes need to be very sensitive; but they also need a way of adapting to environmental light conditions, and protecting those sensitive organs, if a bright light is encountered. Human eyes have a pupil that changes size to regulate light input to the eye. Moths (Lepidoptera) use a light absorbing pigment that moves position to limit the light within the eye. This pigment migration is difficult to record because it is a dynamic process and will only occur in a live moth. This paper presents the first use of Ocular Coherence Tomography as a method of viewing anatomical detail in a compound eye. This is noninvasive and does not harm the insect. To demonstrate the effectiveness, this article documents the dynamic process of light adaptation within a moth's eye.