Honeybees have a type of hair on their eyes

Honeybees - The Hairy Pollinators

Honeybees, renowned for their ability to produce honey and play a vital role in pollination, are fascinating creatures with some intriguing physical characteristics. One such feature that sets them apart is the presence of a unique type of hair on their eyes. Yes, you read that right! Honeybees indeed possess tiny hairs on their compound eyes, and these hairs serve a crucial purpose in their survival and their role as nature’s pollinators.

A study published in the Journal of Insect Science revealed that honeybees have nearly three million hairs scattered across their bodies. These hairs are not just limited to their bodies but are also present on their eyes. This discovery came as a surprise, as bees are often known for their fuzzy appearance due to the abundant hair on their bodies.

These microscopic hairs, known as setae, play a significant role in the bees’ everyday lives. One of the primary functions of the eye hairs is to help the bees collect and carry as much pollen as possible. As bees visit flowers to gather nectar, their fuzzy bodies naturally attract pollen grains. However, the hairs on their eyes serve a more specialized purpose in pollen collection.

As a honeybee moves from one flower to another, its compound eyes brush against the anthers, the male reproductive parts of the plant. This contact causes pollen grains to stick to the hairs on their eyes, allowing them to transport the pollen back to their hive. This remarkable adaptation ensures efficient pollination, aiding in the reproduction and survival of plants while facilitating the bees’ honey production.

To investigate the effectiveness of these eye hairs in pollen collection, researchers from Georgia Tech conducted an experiment. They found that the hairs on the bees’ eyes were approximately five times hairier than those on their bodies. By using specialized microscopy techniques, the scientists analyzed the pollen grains present on the eyes of the honeybees.

The researchers discovered that the hairs on the bees’ eyes were able to collect a substantial amount of pollen when compared to the hairs on their bodies. This observation highlights the importance of these eye hairs as an efficient mechanism for collecting and transferring pollen, which is crucial in the reproduction and diversity of plant species.

Apart from their role in pollen collection, the hairs on honeybees’ eyes also serve an additional purpose. These hairs act as a protective barrier against environmental factors such as dust particles and parasites. The hairs prevent foreign objects from obstructing the bees’ vision and impairing their ability to navigate and forage for food effectively.

In conclusion, the intriguing presence of hair on honeybees’ eyes serves not only to aid in the collection and transportation of pollen but also as a defense mechanism. These microscopic eye hairs highlight the remarkable adaptations that honeybees have developed over centuries of evolution to fulfill their essential roles in pollination and honey production. Understanding the intricacies of these tiny hairs on bees’ eyes deepens our appreciation for the extraordinary abilities and intricate nature of these buzzing insects.

Source: Quartz - Honeybees Are Really Hairy So They Can Carry as Much Pollen as Possible