Construction of Combs

Abstract

The construction of cells and regulation of the space between combs are separate but related problems. The space between combs, affected by the bees themselves, is the very basis of contemporary practical beekeeping. Within a honeybee multiple comb nest, there are several independent comb starts within the building clusters. Then the “rule of parallelism” comes into play because the building bees modify their constructions to keep equable and parallel spaces between combs. Comb construction is the result of interplay of vertical and lateral forces which lead to many imperfections that are eventually hidden by retouching. A building cluster can exert torsional and tensile loading on a piece of comb. When twisting combs, cell walls become broken; however, the bees rapidly repair them. To achieve parallel combs bees must maintain a tolerance distance between combs which may be due to the detection of gravity. Building bees appear to exploit a sense of gravity which was shown by disrupting the function of sense organs and then observing the effects on comb construction. Bees detect gravity by an unfettered sense organ of the neck and orient themselves during comb construction, based on magnetic material in a band across the abdomen. Different magnetic oxide nanoparticles have been observed in all body parts of honeybees, but greater concentrations occur in their abdomens and antennae.