Bees have incredibly advanced eyesight compared to other insects. They can see ultraviolet light that is invisible to humans. This allows them to use color vision to find flowers and sources of nectar. While bees are attracted to bright colors like yellows, oranges, blues, and violets, there are certain colors that bees cannot see or are not attracted to. Understanding what colors bees avoid can help gardeners design bee-friendly flower beds and landscapes. In this article, we will explore what colors do not attract bees and why bees respond differently to various wavelengths of light.
How Bees Perceive Color
Bees have compound eyes which contain thousands of tiny lenses that allow them to see all around themselves without moving their heads. The lenses in a bee’s eye pick up ultraviolet, blue, green, and yellow wavelengths of light. Bees also have three types of photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to UV (ultraviolet), blue, and green light. This gives them trichromatic color vision similar to humans, just shifted towards the ultraviolet spectrum. Bees cannot detect the color red, as red wavelengths of light are too long for their photoreceptors to pick up. Red looks black to a bee. Additionally, bees cannot see the color orange very well. Orange only weakly stimulates their green photoreceptors. So while not completely invisible, orange won’t be as brightly colored or distinguishable to a bee.
Colors Bees Are Not Attracted To
Here are the main colors that bees do not see well or are not strongly attracted to:
– Red – Red flowers appear black to bees as their eyes cannot detect long wavelength red light. Red flowers will not be distinguished from black or dark-colored flowers.
– Orange – Bees can weakly perceive orange, but it does not stimulate their color receptors well, so orange blended flowers will appear dull.
– Pink – Pink is a light red, so like red flowers, pink blooms will appear dark and not stand out to bees.
– Brown – Brown wavelengths are not detected by bee eyes, so brown blooms will blend into soil or woody backgrounds to their vision.
– White – Bees have trouble distinguishing plain white flowers against green foliage and backgrounds. White lacks contrast for their vision.
– Purple – Bees can see the blue wavelengths in purple, but not longer red ones. So solid purple flowers may not be as visible.
– Black – Black flowers absorb all light wavelengths, so they will offer nothing visually to attract bee pollinators.
Why Bees Avoid These Colors
Bees avoid flowers in these shades for the following reasons:
– Red, Pink, Brown – Lack UV/blue receptors to see longer wavelengths.
– Orange, Purple – Only weakly stimulate green receptors.
– White – Blends into background foliage and lacks contrast.
– Black – Absorbs all light, no color response.
Flowers utilizing these hues are not as easily spotted and often blend into the surroundings from the perspective of bee eyesight. Without strong color cues, they have a harder time homing in on blooms. For bees, color contrast and patterns matter more than subtle or muted tones.
Colors That Attract Bees
While bees do not see certain shades well, they are strongly attracted to flowers in these colors:
| Color | Why Bees Are Attracted |
|---|---|
| Blue | Strongly stimulates blue receptors |
| Yellow | Stimulates green and blue receptors |
| Violet | Activates UV and blue receptors |
| Ultraviolet | Seen as bright patterns to bees |
| Magenta | Excites blue and green receptors |
| Turquoise | Good UV and green response |
These colors, which lean towards the blue and ultraviolet end of the spectrum, offer strong visual cues to help foraging bees home in on flowers. Intense yellow, violet, and magenta blooms attract the most bee attention.
Flower Characteristics That Attract Bees
In addition to color, bees target flowers with these traits:
– Patterns – CONTRASTING colors, lines, dots, rings all help guide bees. Solid washes of color are harder to distinguish.
– Nectar guides – UV absorbing lines point bees to the center of flowers.
– Scent – Floral fragrances are a big attractor, especially those with sweet, fruity, or spicy notes.
– Shape – Bees have an easier time landing on open, landing pad shaped blooms with accessible nectaries.
– Abundance – Bees are drawn to clusters of flowers, not singles. Mass plantings attract more foragers.
So color is just one factor guiding bee attraction. But removing red, pink, orange, and white flowers, and adding more blue, yellow, violet, and ultraviolet flowering species will help draw in bee pollinators. A good mix of bee-friendly colors, patterns, scents, and shapes is ideal.
Tips for Designing a Bee Garden
Here are some tips for selecting plants and designing beds to attract more bee pollinators:
– Focus on native plants – they have co-evolved with local bees and provide forage.
– Incorporate blues, yellows, violets/purples – use masses of these colors.
– Include a range of flower shapes – open, landing pad types are best.
– Plant in clumps, not singles – bees like abundance.
– Have continuous bloom – provide nectar and pollen from spring to fall.
– Avoid invasive species – they can disrupt ecosystems.
– Provide clean water – bees need a water source.
– Reduce pesticide use – use non-toxic methods of pest control.
– Allow dead trees/plants – they provide nesting habitat.
– Mix sun and shade areas – bees need shelter too.
Following these guidelines, and avoiding flower colors that bees struggle to see, will help make any garden, large or small, a bee magnet. A bee-friendly landscape is a healthy, sustainable, and ecologically balanced system.
Conclusion
Bees do not see or respond to red, pink, orange, brown, white, black, or purple flowers well. Their vision is shifted towards the blue and UV end of the light spectrum compared to humans. Colors like vivid yellow, blue, and violet provide visual cues that attract bee pollinators. But other factors like scent, patterns, shape, and flower abundance also draw in bees. By considering bee eye biology and preferred flower traits, we can design bee-friendly gardens that support these essential pollinators. Choose a variety of bright, strongly colored, open-shaped flowers blooming from spring through fall. Avoid larger expanses of red, pink, white, and orange, which bees will overlook. With thoughtful plant selection and gardening practices, our landscapes can nourish bees and link fragmented foraging habitats. Supporting bee populations also supports our food system, ecology, and environment.
