Meeting Abstract
Visual acuity, the ability to resolve fine spatial details, can vary dramatically between closely related species. Body-size, behavior, ecology, and sex are all factors that may influence an animal’s visual acuity. Although many studies have examined visual acuity in insects, knowledge of grasshopper visual acuity is mostly limited to one species. Here, we examine the visual acuity of nine grasshopper species using a radius of curvature estimation (RCE) technique. With this data, we explore two common drivers of acuity: size and behavior. Although length in these species ranges from 25-73mm, no interspecific relationship between size and acuity is found (R2=.23; p=0.18). To explore if behavior may influence acuity in grasshoppers, we compare band-winged grasshoppers (subfamily Oedipodinae) to non-band-winged grasshoppers. Band-winged grasshoppers are characterized by their colorfully patterned hindwings, which may function as a visual signal for mating, making them likely to have finer visual acuity than grasshoppers without visual signals. Despite their colorful appearance, band-winged grasshoppers typically had coarser spatial vision than expected. This study furthers the exploration of relationships between visual systems, behavior, and morphology.
