Summary
Spectral sensitivity functions S(λ) of single photoreceptor cells in 43 different hymenopteran species were measured intracellularly with the fast spectral scan method. The distribution of maximal sensitivity values (λmax) shows 3 major peaks at 340 nm, 430 nm and 535 nm and a small peak at 600 nm. Predictions about the colour vision systems of the different hymenopteran species are derived from the spectral sensitivities by application of a receptor model of colour vision and a model of two colour opponent channels. Most of the species have a trichromatic colour vision system. Although the S(λ) functions are quite similar, the predicted colour discriminability curves differ in their relative height of best discriminability in the UV-blue or bluegreen area of the spectrum, indicating that relatively small differences in the S(λ) functions may have considerable effects on colour discriminability. Four of the hymenopteran insects tested contain an additional R-receptor with maximal sensitivity around 600 nm. The R-receptor of the solitary bee Callonychium petuniae is based on a pigment (P596) with a long λmax, whereas in the sawfly Tenthredo campestris the G-receptor appears to act as filter to a pigment (P570), shifting its λmax value to a longer wavelength and narrowing its bandwidth. Evolutionary and life history constraints (e.g. phylogenetic relatedness, social or solitary life, general or specialized feeding behaviour) appear to have no effect on the S(λ) functions. The only effect is found in UV receptors, for which λmax values at longer wavelengths are found in bees flying predominantly within the forest.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Autrum H, Zwehl V von (1964) Die spektrale Empfindlichkeit einzelner Sehzellen des Bienenauges. Z Vergl Physiol 48:357–384
Backhaus W (1991) Color opponent coding in the visual system of the honey bee. Vision Res 31:1381–1397
Backhaus W, Menzel R (1987) Color distance derived from a receptor model of color vision in the honeybee. Biol Cybern 55:321–331
Backhaus W, Menzel R, Kreiβl S (1987) Multidimensional scaling of color similarity in bees. Biol Cybern 56:293–304
Barlow HB (1982) What causes trichromacy? A theoretical analysis using comb-filtered spectra. Vision Res 22:635–643
Bernard GD (1979) Red-absorbing visual pigment of butterflies. Science 203:1125–1127
Bowmaker JK (1983) Trichromatic colour vision: why only three receptor channels. Trends Neurosci 6:43–56
Buchsbaum G, Gottschalk A (1983) Trichromacy, opponent colour coding and optimum colour information transmission in the retina. Proc R Soc Lond B 220:89–113
Chinery M (1984) Insekten Mitteleuropas, 3. Auflage. Paul Parey, Hamburg
Chittka L, Beier W, Hertel H, Steinman E, Menzel R (1990) Opponent color coding as a universal mechanism in hymenopteran insect vision. In: Elsner N, Roth G (eds) Brain — perception cognition. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart, p 194
Cure IR, Wittmann D (1990) Callonychium petuniae, a new panur gine bee species (Apoidea, Andrenidae), oligolectic on Petunia (Solanaceae). Stud Neurotrop Fauna Environ 25:153–156
Dartnall HJA (1953) The interpretation of spectral sensitivity curves. Br Med Bull 9:24–30
Ebrey TG, Honig B (1977) New wavelength dependent visual pigments' nomograms. Vision Res 17:147–151
Gribakin FG (1988) Photoreceptor optics of the honeybee and its eye colour mutants: the effect of screening pigments on the long-wave subsystem of colour vision. J Comp Physiol A 164:123–140
Kirschfeld K (1974) The absolute sensitivities of lens and compound eyes. Z Naturforsch 29:592–596
Kirschfeld K (1986) Activation of visual pigment: chromophore structure and function. In: Stieve H (ed) The molecular mechanism of photoreception (Dahlem Konferenzen 1986). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 31–49
Langer H, Schlecht P, Schwemer J (1982) Microspectrophotometric investigation of insect visual pigments. In: Packer L (ed) Methods of enzymology. Biomembranes, vol 81, part H. Academic Press, New York, pp 729–741
Lythgoe JN (1972) The adaptation of visual pigments to the photic environment. In: Dartnall HJ (ed) Photochemistry of vision (Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. VII/1). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 567–624
Maximov VV (1988) An approximation of visual absorption spectra. Sensornye Systemy 2:3–8
Meinertzhagen IA, Menzel R, Kahle G (1983) The identification of spectral receptor types in the retina and lamina of the dragonfly Sympetrum rubicundulum. J Comp Physiol 151:295–310
Menzel JG, Wunderer H, Stavenga DG (1991) Functional morphology of the divided compound eye of the honeybee drone (Apis mellifera). Tissue Cell 23:525–535
Menzel R (1979) Spectral sensitivity and colour vision in invertebrates. In: Autrum H (ed) Invertebrate photoreceptors (Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. VII/6A). Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 503–580
Menzel R, Backhaus W (1989a) Color vision in insects. In: Gouras P (ed) Vision and visual dysfunction, vol. VII. Perception of color.MacMillan Press, Houndsmills, pp 262–293
Menzel R, Backhaus W (1989b) Color vision in honey bee: phenomena and physiological mechanisms. In: Stavenga D, Hardie R (eds) Facets of vision. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 281–297
Menzel R, Ventura DF, Hertel H, Souza JM de, Greggers U (1986) Spectral sensitivity of photoreceptors in insect compound eyes: comparison of species and methods. J Comp Physiol A 158:165–177
Menzel R, Backhaus W, Chittka L, Hoffmann M (1988) Honey bee drones are trichromates. In: Elsner N, Barth FG (eds) Sense organs. Thieme, Stuttgart, p 217
Peitsch D, Backhaus W, Wittmann D, Fix Ventura D, Menzel R (in press) Tetrachromatic colour vision in hymenopterans. Verh Deutsh Zool Ges
Praagh JP van, Ribi WA, Wehrhahn C, Wittmann D (1980) Drone bees fixate the queen with the dorsal frontal part of their compound eyes. J Comp Physiol 136:263–266
Ribi WA (1978) Colour receptors in the eye of the digger wasp, Sphex cognatus Smith:evaluation by selective adaptation. Cell Tissue Res 195:471–483
Shannon CE, Weaver W (1949/1963) The mathematical theory of communication. Univ. Illinois Press, Urbana (Ill)
Shaw SR (1969) Interreceptor coupling in ommatidia of drone honeybee and locust compound eye. Vision Res 9:999–1029
Smith WC, Goldsmith TH (1990) Phyletic aspects of the distribution of 3-hydroxyretinal in the class Insecta. J Mol Evol 30:72–84
Snyder AW, Menzel R, Laughlin SB (1973) Structure and function of the fused rhabdom. J Comp Physiol 87:99–135
Vogt K (1989) Distribution of insect visual chromophores: functional and phylogenetic aspects. In: Stavenga D, Hardie R (eds) Facets of vision. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 134–151
Wald G, Brown PK (1965) Human color vision and color blindness. Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 30:345–362
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peitsch, D., Fietz, A., Hertel, H. et al. The spectral input systems of hymenopteran insects and their receptor-based colour vision. J Comp Physiol A 170, 23–40 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00190398
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00190398