Nature Questions from Kids: Do bees have eyes?

Do bees have eyes?

By Snake

Question submitted by Zachary, age 4, Rochester, NY

Bees do indeed have eyes. They actually have five of them! Like most insects, they have two compound eyes and three simple eyes that allow them to see light and movement very well. Bees don't see colors the way you and I see them, though. They can't see the color red; it looks black to them, but they see blue, yellow and white flowers as well as colors in the ultraviolet spectrum.

To bees, many flower petals have lines and dots that guide them to the nectar. We can see some of these nectar guides with our eyes, but others are only visible to the insects. This web site has more information about how insect eyes work: Eyedesignbook.com. For more information about bees, try these websites:

pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/textindex.html

pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/multimedia/bee.html

EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/insects/bee/honeybeecoloring.shtml

Kids can submit nature questions to Snake and Newt by clicking here to complete the form.

Rochester

Summer Fun in Rochester

Do bees have eyes?

By Snake

Question submitted by Zachary, age 4, Rochester, NY

New!

Health Tips