Honeybee combs: How the circular cells transform into rounded hexagons

B. L. Karihaloo*, K. Zhang, J. Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report that the cells in a natural honeybee comb have a circular shape at 'birth' but quickly transform into the familiar rounded hexagonal shape, while the comb is being built. The mechanism for this transformation is the flow of molten visco-elastic wax near the triple junction between the neighbouring circular cells. The flow may be unconstrained or constrained by the unmolten wax away from the junction. The heat for melting the wax is provided by the 'hot' worker bees.

Original languageEnglish
Article number0299
JournalJournal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume10
Issue number86
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2013

Keywords

  • Circular cell at birth
  • Honeycomb
  • Rounded hexagonal cell

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