Honeybee comb is a remarkable natural structure that forms the heart of a bee colony’s existence. It is a central hub for nearly all hive activities, composed of interconnected hexagonal cells. This highly efficient and organized system supports the survival and growth of the entire bee population. The comb’s iconic appearance is a testament to the bees’ sophisticated engineering abilities and cooperative behaviors.
The Comb’s Structure and Material
The honeycomb’s hexagonal shape is a marvel of natural engineering, chosen for its efficiency in space and material use. Hexagons tessellate perfectly, fitting together without gaps. Compared to other shapes that can fill a plane without voids, such as squares or equilateral triangles, hexagons enclose the maximum possible area with the least amount of perimeter. This geometric optimization minimizes the amount of beeswax required for construction while maximizing storage capacity. This design also contributes to the comb’s strength, as stacked hexagons in an offset arrangement, with six short walls around each cell, provide high compression strength.
The comb is constructed from beeswax, a natural wax secreted by worker honeybees. Beeswax is primarily composed of esters, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons. This composition gives beeswax its malleability, water-repellent nature, and ability to remain solid across a wide temperature range. These properties make beeswax an ideal building material for a durable, stable, and protective hive structure. The wax is also inert and strong, with 100 grams of honeycomb capable of supporting up to 4 kg of weight.
How Bees Build Comb
Honeybees construct comb through a meticulous, cooperative process, beginning with beeswax secretion. Young worker bees consume large amounts of honey, stimulating specialized wax glands on their abdomens to produce wax. This wax is secreted as small, flat, clear scales. Bees consume a significant amount of honey to produce wax, with estimates suggesting six to eight pounds of honey for one pound of wax.
Once secreted, a worker bee scrapes a wax scale from her abdomen and passes it to her front legs. She then chews the wax, mixing it with saliva to soften and make it pliable. Multiple bees work together, adding softened wax pieces, meticulously shaping them into hexagonal cells. The hive’s temperature and humidity maintain the wax’s consistency and facilitate construction. Bees often start by forming circular shapes; then, collective body heat and surface tension pull the cooling wax into precise hexagons, creating a highly organized and strong structure.
Life and Resources Within the Comb
Honeybee comb serves numerous functions beyond structural support, acting as the central hub for colony survival and reproduction. A primary role is food resource storage. Bees collect nectar, process it into honey, and store it in hexagonal cells. Honey serves as the colony’s main food source, providing energy, especially during colder months. A healthy colony may store an average of 60 to 70 pounds of honey for winter.
The comb also stores pollen, which bees collect and mix with nectar and saliva to form “bee bread.” Bee bread is a rich source of protein and nutrients, providing nourishment for developing young and adult bees. Different areas within the comb are dedicated to specific functions. Brood cells, where the queen lays eggs and larvae develop, are typically located in the hive’s center or lower frames of man-made hives. These cells provide optimal conditions for growth, with worker bees constantly maintaining them. Pollen combs often surround the brood, with honey storage typically found in the outer layers or upper sections of the comb.
Comb’s Value to Humans
Beyond its biological significance for bees, honeycomb holds various practical applications for humans. Its edibility is a direct use; the entire honeycomb, including beeswax cells, can be consumed directly with the honey. Honeycomb offers nutritional benefits, rich in raw honey and containing antioxidants like phenolic acids and flavonoids. It also provides carbohydrates (glucose and fructose), minerals (magnesium and potassium), and vitamins B and C. Chewing beeswax may even help lower cholesterol levels due to the extraction of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols.
Historically and in modern times, beeswax has found diverse applications beyond food. It has been used for centuries as a natural plastic, a lubricant, and a waterproofing agent. Beeswax is a common ingredient in candles, prized for its clean burn, and in cosmetics like lip balms and hydrating lotions due to its moisturizing properties. In traditional medicine, particularly in Asian cultures, beeswax has been incorporated into various remedies, with ancient texts mentioning healing properties for conditions like inflammation and burns.