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
1 answer
The bees' ability to detect ultraviolet light with their ocelli allows them to easily locate nectar and pollen-rich flowers, increasing their efficiency as pollinators. This trait benefits the bee by ensuring they find the most nutritious food sources while expending minimal energy in the process. On the other hand, the vibrant ultraviolet colors and patterns in flower petals that are visible to bees play a crucial role in attracting bees to the flowers for pollination. This benefits the flower or crop by increasing its chances of successful reproduction through pollination, ultimately leading to the production of seeds or fruit.
2 answers