Not only are honeybees vital for facilitating plant reproduction through pollination, but they are also very skilled builders. These insects have perfected the art of construction, creating one of the most space-efficient structures around – the honeycomb.
Honeycombs are the building blocks for a hive. Each honeycomb consists of thousands of hexagonal cells made from beeswax.
Honeycomb construction is a fascinating process. Worker bees eat honey and produce sticky, yellow beeswax from special glands in their abdomens.
They start by building individual round cells. Because of a “stretchy” property called surface tension, the wax tends to take up the least space possible while holding everything in. The surface tension pulls these round cells of warm wax into a hexagon shape. When this happens, the molecules in the beeswax stick together very well and form a thin layer of skin on top of the wax.
Hexagons are perfect for honeycombs because they fit together without gaps. Compared to other shapes, the hexagon uses the least amount of wax to create a wall around each honeycomb cell.
Because producing beeswax is hard work, honeybees do not want to waste any of their resources. This means that they need to use the least amount of wax to construct honeycomb cells that can hold as much honey as they can.
Honeycombs are also incredibly strong structures.
This is for good reason – these cells are not just for efficient honey storage. The bees also keep pollen and water inside them. The honeycombs are also where their babies are raised.
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The honeybee’s ability to construct such complex habitats is a reminder of the incredible feats that can be achieved through teamwork.
If you are interested in learning more about these insects, the Hong Kong Science Museum is running a biodiversity workshop called “Getting to Know the Bees and Wasps”. You can find out more about the workshop on the museum’s website.
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