Bienenwabe

Bienenwabe, commonly translated as honeycomb, is the hexagonal wax cell structure created by honey bees inside a beehive. Each comb consists of many individual cells built from beeswax secreted by worker bees. The cells are arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern, a design that provides strength while using relatively little material and maximizes storage space.

The primary functions of the Bienenwabe are to store honey and pollen and to provide brood cells for developing larvae and pupae. Worker bees typically lay eggs in worker-sized cells (about 4.9 to 5.5 mm in diameter), while larger drone cells exist for male bees; development stages are capped with wax once ready to pupate.

Bees construct combs either naturally in wild or feral colonies or under human management with foundation sheets placed in frames. The foundation, made of wax or plastic, gives the bees a starting pattern to follow. In a managed hive, combs can be kept or replaced to manage disease, optimize honey production, or to facilitate inspection.

The Bienenwabe has cultural and scientific significance as a model of efficient natural engineering and as the primary substrate in beekeeping for honey harvest and brood rearing. The appearance and condition of the comb can reflect nectar flows, health of the colony, and the age of the hive.