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The term "ocellus" (plural ocelli) is derived from the Latin oculus (eye), and literally means "little eye". In insects, two distinct ocellus types exist: [9] dorsal (top-most) ocelli, and lateral ocelli (often referred to as ocelli and stemmata, respectively), most insects have dorsal ocelli while stemmata are found in the larvae of some ...
The hindwing beneath grey-brown from the base to the middle, then there follows a proximally somewhat dentate ashy grey band, the distal area being of the same colour as the base; the ocelli are completely absent. The female is lighter throughout, the ocelli moreover are as a rule somewhat larger than in the male.
Fore wing with from two to four, hind wing normally with seven ocelli, similar to, but more clearly defined than, the ocelli on the upperside ; on both wings the line of ocelli bordered inwardly and outwardly by sinuous purplish-white lines. On the hind wing only the three posterior ocelli in a straight line, the rest strongly curved outwards.
[11] [21] The ocelli are not homologous to the simple eyes of caterpillars which are differently named as stemmata. [5] The ocelli of Lepidoptera are reduced externally in some families; where present, they are unfocussed, unlike stemmata of larvae which are fully focussed. The utility of ocelli is not understood at present. [5]
On the forewing there are towards the apex two white-centred black ocelli, which contrast with the ground-colour and are sometimes confluent; a third smaller ocellus is situated towards the hindmargin. The hindwing has distally 3—4 white-centred ocelli, which are sometimes as large as those on the forewing.
In the band there are costally 2 pupillated ocelli placed somewhat obliquely towards each other, and in the female united. In this sex, more rarely in the male, there is sometimes a small third ocellus towards the hindmargin or a black dot instead. The band of the hindwing is narrower and bears 3—4 white-centred ocelli.
Chalcidoid wasps are small wasps (most within the range 0.5–5 mm). However the group does include the smallest known insect (Dicopomorpha echmepterygis males have a body length of 0.14–0.24 mm); the largest chalcidoids include Leucospis gigas with a body length of up to 21 mm [2] and Doddifoenus wallacei with a body length of up to 19.6 mm. [3]
The presence of ocelli distinguishes the Trichoceridae from these other families. There are approximately 160 known species. The adults can be found flying in the fall and the spring and some are active even in the winter, hence their common name. They form dancing, loose swarms of mostly males.