Beeswax is a natural substance created by honey bees, specifically from the genus Apis. This material forms the structural foundation of a bee colony’s home, the beehive. It is a complex mixture primarily composed of esters of fatty acids and long-chain alcohols, along with over 300 other minor components. The color of beeswax can vary, often appearing as a shade of yellow, but can range from nearly white to brownish depending on its purity and the types of flowers the bees have visited.
The Bee’s Biological Factory
Beeswax production is an intricate biological process carried out by worker bees, predominantly those between 12 and 20 days old. These younger bees possess specialized wax-producing glands located on the underside of their abdomens. To fuel wax secretion, bees consume significant amounts of honey. It takes a substantial amount of honey to produce wax, with estimates suggesting bees consume between 6 to 8 pounds of honey to secrete just one pound of beeswax.
Within the bee’s body, the sugars from the consumed honey are converted into liquid wax. This liquid wax is then exuded through tiny pores on the bee’s abdomen, where it hardens upon contact with air. The wax appears as small, clear, and colorless flakes. The hive’s ambient temperature must be maintained between 33 to 36 °C (91 to 97 °F) for bees to effectively secrete and manipulate the wax.
Crafting the Hive Structure
Once the clear wax scales are secreted, worker bees retrieve them. They use their mandibles to manipulate and chew the small flakes. This chewing process softens the wax and makes it pliable. The wax, initially clear, becomes opaque and can turn whiter after this mastication.
Bees then meticulously arrange these softened wax pieces to construct the hexagonal cells of the honeycomb. They form the cells by building wax cylinders, and these cylinders, when closely packed and warmed by the bees’ body heat, naturally transform into the familiar hexagonal shape. This precise, collaborative effort results in a strong and efficient structure that forms the core of the beehive. The hexagonal shape is remarkably efficient, allowing bees to maximize storage space while using the least amount of material.
The Essential Role of Beeswax
Bees go through the elaborate process of producing beeswax because it serves several fundamental purposes within the colony. These hexagonal cells are used to store honey, which is the colony’s primary food source. They also serve as storage for pollen, another vital nutrient source, which is often mixed with nectar and saliva to create “bee bread” for the colony.
Beyond food storage, beeswax cells are also essential as a nursery for developing young bees, known as brood. The queen bee lays her eggs in these cells, which then house the larvae and pupae as they grow into adult bees. The comb provides a protective environment, ensuring the survival and growth of the next generation of the colony.