Functional exploration of the visual field of the wood‐cricket, Nemobius sylvestris

ABSTRACT. Orientation towards a rectangular black visual target was measured with tethered crickets, Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc). The orientation reaction was induced only if the target was located in a visual field within 100° of the sagittal plane, 60° above and 40° below the horizontal plane. The motor response was maximum when the target was presented between 30° and 40° of the sagittal plane, and between 0° and 20° above the horizontal one. The orientation reaction was induced optimally by an area of the eye which is lateral and slightly dorsal, whose ommatidia are not included in the binocular field. The ability to move the head enlarged the visual field by about 20° laterally, improving the exploration of the visual space.