Why Do Some Insects Have Three Dots On Their Heads and What Is Their Function?

The three dots on the insect’s head are the simple eyes, or ocelli.

Many insects have both compound and simple eyes.

A compound eye is the familiar faceted bulge on the fly, for example, but a simple eye is just one little hexagonal surface.

They are not believed to generate an image, though we do not really know what an insect sees.

They are believed to be receptors sensitive to light and dark.