Bee eyesight is a complex subject. Bees have compound eyes. These eyes allow them to see the world in a way that is very difficult for us to understand - they have 13803.
we unpack how bee color vision works. We take a look at the colors bees are attracted to, and what colors bees can not see. So do bees see in color? Yes, but it’s complicated.
Bees can see color in their compound eyes. Each compound eye is divided into 6900 facets – these form individual small eyes called ommatidia. Every ommatidium is equipped with eight light-sensing cells.
Bees do not see red. Again, however, we do not know that something that we see as red, with our eyes does not have some sneaky veins in it that are reflecting UV.
When a bee flies up to a beehive, they are often painted white – a color they struggle to see. You can help the bees identify their unique hive. Paint stripes in blue, black, and various other bright colors on the front of the hive.