Judy Taylor
Introduction: Why do bees and wasps use hexagons?
Bees and wasps are social insects that live in hives, which are made up of many individual cells. These cells are used for various purposes, such as storing food, raising young, and housing the queen. What makes these cells unique is their shape: they are hexagonal, or six-sided. But why do bees and wasps use hexagons? The answer lies in efficiency, space-saving, structural stability, and design optimization. By using hexagons, these insects have evolved to create the most efficient and structurally sound hives possible.
Hexagonal cells: How do bees and wasps build them?
Bees and wasps build their hexagonal cells by secreting wax from their bodies and molding it into shape with their mandibles. Workers in the hive will create a chain reaction, where they will pass the wax to each other and shape it into hexagonal cells. They do this by using their bodies to heat and soften the wax, making it easier to work with. Over time, bees and wasps have evolved to create uniform, symmetrical hexagons that fit together perfectly, maximizing space and structural stability. These hexagonal cells are essential for the survival of the hive, as they provide a place for the queen to lay eggs, food to be stored, and young to be raised.
