North Carolina Bee School Practice Exam

True or False: Bees can see red.

1. True

2. False

3. Only during the day

4. Only during the night

The correct answer is: False

Bees possess a unique visual system that is quite different from that of humans. While humans have three types of photoreceptors that allow us to perceive red, blue, and green light, bees have only two types, which are sensitive primarily to ultraviolet and blue wavelengths, along with some sensitivity to green. This means that bees are largely unable to see red light, which falls outside their visual spectrum. Instead, colors such as yellow and blue are more prominent to them. The inability to see red can also be relevant for understanding how bees interact with flowers, as many plants have evolved colors that attract bees based on what they can perceive. They often use ultraviolet patterns, which are invisible to humans, as cues for finding nectar and pollen. This understanding of bee vision is crucial in beekeeping and understanding pollination dynamics, highlighting the specialized adaptations of bees that enable them to function effectively within their ecological niches.