Bees and UV Vision by William Martin

"Bees and UV Vision" explores the remarkable ability of bees to see ultraviolet (UV) light, a spectrum invisible to humans, and how this influences their behavior and the evolution of flowering plants. Bees use UV vision to efficiently locate flowers, acting as visual signals that guide them to nectar and pollen sources. This book highlights how bees' unique sensory biology allows them to differentiate between flowers that appear identical to us, showcasing the intricate plant-pollinator interactions shaped by co-evolution.

The book explains the biophysics of UV light, the neurobiology of bee vision, and the ecological impact of UV patterns in flowers. It begins with the physics of light and insect vision, progressing to the neural processing of UV light in the bee's eye and brain. Different flower species have evolved unique UV reflectance patterns to attract bees.

The concluding sections discuss the broader ecological and evolutionary implications, including pollination syndromes and the potential impacts of environmental changes on bee-flower interactions.