Not just two: how many eyes does a bee actually have?

Some animals possess what is known as a "third eye," while certain spiders have as many as 8 eyes. At first glance, it may seem that bees have only two large eyes, but first impressions can be misleading, as noted by IFLScience.

How many eyes does a bee actually have?

If you have ever observed a bee up close, you might have noticed two quite large eyes situated on its small head. However, the visual system of bees is more complex. In fact, bees have 5 eyes: three simple eyes and two compound eyes.

The compound eyes are the two large brown-black ovals that occupy most of the bee's head. With these eyes, bees perceive movement and discern colors.

Compound eyes are made up of thousands of tiny light-sensitive segments known as ommatidia. Each segment of the compound eye can function as a separate visual organ, covered by a cone and lens. These segments of the compound eye help bees focus light onto photoreceptor cells, which convert light into signals sent to the brain for processing information.

The three simple eyes are arranged in a triangular formation at the center of the bee's head, between the two compound eyes. Despite their name, these eyes are not as simple as they might seem. They are termed "simple" because their structure is somewhat less complex than that of compound eyes. Each simple eye contains approximately 800 retinal cells.

Scientists believe that unlike compound eyes, simple eyes do not play a role in detecting spatial details. These visual organs act as highly sensitive light detectors, assisting bees in using the Sun for navigation.

What can a bee see?

Bees perceive the surrounding world, including the flowers they pollinate, quite differently from humans. While humans can see only light with wavelengths ranging from 380 to 700 nanometers, which constitutes the visible spectrum, bees can see light with wavelengths from 300 to 650 nanometers. Notably, bees cannot see the color red.

At the same time, bees can see ultraviolet light, and scientists believe that flowers have evolved to display ultraviolet patterns. This makes flowers more attractive to bees, who are essential pollinators.

Another unique feature of a bee's eyes

The compound eyes of bees are covered with tiny hairs, which are very beneficial for these insects. The hairs allow bees to collect more pollen from flowers. They are arranged in such a way that pollen clings to their tips. Bees can easily brush their legs across their eyes to remove pollen, thereby clarifying their vision.