Bees are common pollinators, and many commercially grown crops that we eat depend on bee pollination. Bees’ eyesight allows them to be such successful pollinators. They have two sets of eyes. At the top of their heads, bees have three smaller eyes (called ocelli) that help them discern light intensity, maintain stability, and navigate. They also have two large compound eyes that detect movement. Bees can see ultraviolet (UV) light with their ocelli. Thus, vibrant ultraviolet colors and patterns in flower petals are visible to bees but invisible to us. These pigments often direct the bee to specific parts of the flower (e.g., the flower’s center). Additionally, their remarkable eyesight allows them to visualize objects at high speeds. For example, while you might see a blur of color if you quickly drove past a meadow, a bee could easily visualize individual flowers in the meadow without reducing its flight speed.

Question

Bees are common pollinators, and many commercially grown crops that we eat depend on bee pollination. Bees’ eyesight allows them to be such successful pollinators. They have two sets of eyes. At the top of their heads, bees have three smaller eyes (called ocelli) that help them discern light intensity, maintain stability, and navigate. They also have two large compound eyes that detect movement. Bees can see ultraviolet (UV) light with their ocelli. Thus, vibrant ultraviolet colors and patterns in flower petals are visible to bees but invisible to us. These pigments often direct the bee to specific parts of the flower (e.g., the flower’s center). Additionally, their remarkable eyesight allows them to visualize objects at high speeds. For example, while you might see a blur of color if you quickly drove past a meadow, a bee could easily visualize individual flowers in the meadow without reducing its flight speed.

Given this information, consider why these characteristics may have evolved in the bee. In three to five sentences, describe these factors:

how one of these characteristics would benefit the bee
how one of these characteristics would benefit the flower or crop

Answer 1

The bee's ability to see ultraviolet light would benefit them in finding flowers and identifying the most nutritious parts to collect nectar from. Additionally, their ability to visualize objects at high speeds would help them efficiently navigate and find food sources. For flowers or crops, the ability of bees to see ultraviolet light is important because it helps guide the bee to the flower’s center, where the most nectar and pollen are typically found. This increases the likelihood of successful pollination and ultimately leads to a greater yield of fruits, vegetables, and other crops.