Bee nests are central to the survival and reproduction of bee colonies or individual bees. From underground burrows to suspended combs, their design and location adapt to the environment and lifestyle.
The Varied Building Blocks of Bee Nests
Bees use diverse materials for their nests, chosen for species-specific needs.
Honey bees and bumblebees primarily use wax, which they produce themselves. Honey bees secrete wax flakes from glands, molding them into hexagonal honeycomb cells for storing honey, pollen, and rearing young. Bumblebees also create wax cells, though less organized.
Other bee species, particularly solitary ones, use plant-derived materials. Leafcutter bees cut semicircular pieces from leaves or petals to construct individual cell chambers within existing cavities. Carpenter bees bore into wood, chewing pulp to create tunnels and chambers for offspring.
Mud and clay are favored by certain solitary bees. Mason bees collect mud or clay to build partitions between individual egg cells within tunnels or cavities. They select narrow, tube-like spaces, sealing each brood cell with a mud wall after laying an egg and provisioning it with food.
Plant resins, sometimes mixed with wax, serve as protective and structural material. Stingless bees collect sticky resins and combine them with wax to create propolis, used for nest construction, reinforcing entrances, and lining internal structures. This “bee glue” provides structural integrity and defense.
Many bee species adapt natural cavities or excavate their own homes in the ground. Most are ground-nesters, digging tunnels and chambers in soil. Others use existing spaces like hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, or plant stems, often lining them with collected materials.
How Bees Construct Their Homes and Why
Bee nests are driven by reproduction and survival. They provide a protected environment for rearing young (brood cells) and storage for food resources like honey and pollen. Nests also offer protection from environmental extremes and predators.
Nest building varies between social and solitary bees. Honey bees collectively construct hexagonal wax cells, maximizing storage and stability while minimizing wax use. Worker bees secrete wax scales, which are chewed and molded, forming a complex internal structure.
Nest design and material selection adapt to specific environmental conditions and life histories. Ground nests, common among many solitary and some social bees, offer temperature stability and protection from surface predators. Soil insulates against heat and cold, maintaining a consistent microclimate for developing young.
Other species, like honey bees, select enclosed cavities in trees or rocks, providing a dark, sheltered space for temperature and humidity regulation. Nesting site and material choice also aids in predator avoidance. Concealed locations, such as underground or within tree hollows, reduce exposure to visual predators.
The nest’s structure and materials provide physical barriers and defensive advantages. A honey bee hive’s intricate architecture, with its small, defensible entrance, aids protection against intruders. Some bee species even apply animal feces around nest entrances to deter hornets.