Behavioural evidence for polarization vision in crickets

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Abstract
Tethered field crickets, Gryllus campestris L., walking on an air‐suspended bail exhibit a spontaneous response to the e‐vector of polarized light presented from above: E‐vector orientation controls strength and direction of turning tendency. Experiments in which different eye regions are covered with paint suggest that this response is mediated by the anatomically and physiologically specialized dorsal rim area of the compound eye. We conclude that crickets have polarization vision and that the dorsal rim area of the eye plays a key role in this sensory capacity.