What color does red appear to bees?

Bees are unique in their perception of color due to their compound eyes, which have a different makeup compared to human eyes. While humans can see a range of colors including red, bees lack the photoreceptors for red wavelengths. As a result, they are unable to detect red as a distinct color and perceive it instead as a shade of grey.

This understanding of bee vision is important for beekeepers, especially when choosing flowers or coloring for hives that will attract bees. Many flowers that bees are drawn to emit colors within the spectrum they can detect, primarily in the blue and ultraviolet ranges. The ability to understand how bees perceive colors helps in creating better foraging environments for them and promoting healthy bee populations.