According to the following two references honey bee eyes show
maximum sensitivity at about 340 nm (UV), 430 nm (blue) and 530 nm (green-
yellow). These maxima can be interpreted as 3 different kinds of receptors.
Together, they are sensible in the range of 300 to 650 nm. Therefore,
honey bees are not able to see red light.
(Humans: range: 400 to 800 nm)
I do not know whether honey bees use light of different wavelenghts for
different purposes.
 
K Daumer 1956 Reizmetrische Untersuchung des Farbensehens der Biene
Z. vergl. Physiol. 38, 41-478.
 
H Autrum, V. v. Zwehl 1964 Die spektrale Empfindlichkeit einzelner
Sehzellen des Bienenauges. Z. vergl. Physiol. 48, 357-384.
 
> My son is a sixth grader and was asked to find furthur information about the
> following by his teacher:  "Bees use certain wavelengths of light to find
> their way between sources of food and their hive.  Use a reference source to
> find more information about this."
>
> We consulted THE HIVE AND THE HONEYBEE and found only a few oblique
> references to the above and nothing that really explained it.  I would really
>
> appreciate input from the list regarding this.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Florence and Mark Cooper
> 1st year beekeepers, 1 hive
> Jackson, Mississippi
> USA
 
 
____________________________________________________________________
Michael Haberl
Zoologisches Institut der Uni Muenchen         Tel: ++49 89 5902-444
Luisenstr. 14                                  Fax: ++49 89 5902-450
80333 Muenchen, Germany   E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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