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How do bees make beeswax?
Beeswax is a wonder of nature. Humans have been using beeswax for thousands of years. It has been found in ancient cave art, has been used as currency, and was used to embalm the dead in ancient Egypt.
Today, it is still used to make candles, cosmetics, medicinal balms and more. And for the bees, it’s an essential part of their colony. Beeswax is the foundation and the structure of the beehive — their nursery and pantry. But how do these tiny insects create such a versatile material?
- What is beeswax?
- How do bees make wax?
- How do bees use wax?
- Can I collect beeswax from a Flow Hive?
- What can I use beeswax for?
What is beeswax?
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees. Bees use wax to create the structure of the beehive - the comb in which they store food and raise the developing young bees.
Natural comb made of beeswax in a foundationless frame
For more on collecting, rendering, and using beeswax, sign up for a free 30-day trial of TheBeekeeper.org. Our online course is packed with fascinating lessons on all aspects of bees and beekeeping.
How do bees make wax?
Young worker bees, 8-20 days old, are the primary producers of beeswax. They have special wax glands on their abdomens through which they secrete flakes of wax. Producing wax takes a lot of energy. Bees need to consume around 8 kg of honey to make 1 kg of beeswax. Therefore, bees will only produce wax when there is a lot of nectar available.
A honeybee producing wax scales from her wax glands
After the wax flakes have been secreted, other bees collect these wax flakes and chew them, adding enzymes from their saliva to make the wax more pliable before using it to construct comb in the hive. The bees cluster together, creating the perfect temperature for the wax to be pliable. They work in collaboration, using their mandibles to shape the wax into the honeycomb structure.
How do bees use wax?
The worker bees shape the wax into perfect hexagons or “cells”. Each hexagonal wax cell is used either as a nursery or a pantry. If the queen lays an egg in the cell, it will hatch into a larva after 3 days. The nurse bees will feed the developing larva for 6 days and then seal the cell over with more wax. The larva will develop into an adult bee over the following 12 days. She will then chew the wax capping open before emerging to take her place in the hive.
If the wax cells are being used for food storage, the bees will fill them with nectar, which they evaporate until it turns to honey. When the honey is ready to be stored, the bees will once again cover the cell with wax to safely store the honey. They can also fill cells with pollen, which they cap with wax and ferment into a food known as “bee bread”.
Can I collect beeswax from a Flow Hive?
In traditional beekeeping, most beeswax is collected by removing the wax capping from the honey cells before spinning the frames in an extractor. When using Flow Frames, the honey is harvested without removing the wax cappings. The bees can then reuse the wax capping after the honey has been harvested. Because wax takes a lot of energy for the bees to produce, reusing the wax cappings can increase the rate of honey production in a Flow Hive.
A Flow Hive Hybrid contains both Flow Frames and traditional timber frames
Because Flow Hive encourages the use of foundationless brood frames, you can collect honeycomb from the outer brood frames. It’s also possible to use a Flow Hive Hybrid with both traditional timber frames and Flow Frames in the Flow Super. Another option is to allow the bees to build comb in the roof space. The best way to do this is to place a perspex dish over the feeder hole in the inner cover.
For more, see our support article: How do I harvest wax from timber frames in a Flow Hive?
What can I use beeswax for?
Beeswax food wraps are a reusable alternative to cling wrap
Beeswax is a natural, sustainable and reusable product. Popular uses in the home include:
- Food wraps
- Salves, lotions, lip balm
- Wood protection
- Sealant
- Polish
- Soap
Along with honey, beeswax is a wonderful bonus of having a beehive in your backyard. If you’re curious about keeping bees, Flow Hive has everything you need to get started. Our revolutionary harvesting technology makes beekeeping more accessible than ever. And with unrivalled customer support and education, we’re committed to creating a community of educated, empowered beekeepers, protecting pollinators, and highlighting the importance of bees to the world.
