Entomology & Anatomy Diagrams
Explore vector schematics explaining external morphology, internal physiological systems, complete 4-stage metamorphosis, solitary nest architecture, and floral pollination physics.
Compound Eyes (6,900 Ommatidia)
Polarized light navigation & UV flower runway detection
Each compound eye contains up to 6,900 hexagonal optical units called ommatidia. Together with three simple dorsal ocelli eyes on top of the head, they detect polarized ultraviolet skylight, enabling accurate celestial orientation even beneath heavy cloud cover.
Reveals ultraviolet "nectar guide" patterns on flower petals that are invisible to human eyes, directing the bee straight to the flower's nectar glands.
Bees see UV, blue, and green, but cannot see pure red (which appears black to them). Flowers evolved blue and UV tones specifically for bee vision.