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] ____________________________________________________________________