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Honeybee combs: how the circular cells transform into rounded hexagons
B L Karihaloo1, K Zhang, J Wang
1School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK. karihaloob@cardiff.ac.uk
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|July 19, 2013
Summary
Honeybee comb cells start circular but transform into hexagons. This shape change is driven by molten wax flow between cells, facilitated by heat from worker bees.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Natural honeybee combs exhibit a distinctive hexagonal cell structure.
- The process by which this structure forms from initial cell shapes is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism behind the transformation of honeybee comb cells from a circular to a hexagonal shape.
- To identify the physical processes and thermal conditions driving cell morphogenesis in honeybee colonies.
Main Methods:
- Observation of cell formation in natural honeybee combs.
- Analysis of wax properties and flow dynamics near cell junctions.
- Thermal imaging to assess heat distribution from worker bees.
Main Results:
- Newly formed honeybee comb cells are initially circular.
- Cellular transformation to a rounded hexagonal shape occurs rapidly during comb construction.
- Visco-elastic wax flow at the triple junction, driven by heat from worker bees, is the primary mechanism for shape transformation.
Conclusions:
- The hexagonal structure of honeybee combs arises from a physical process involving molten wax flow.
- Worker bee heat plays a crucial role in enabling the wax plasticity required for cell morphogenesis.
- This study reveals a fascinating interplay between biological behavior and physical principles in natural construction.
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