196 WAX A BY-PRODUCT OF THE APIARY 



apparently for the purpose of secreting wax and with it building 

 the new combs which will be necessary to store the food supply 

 and rear the brood of the colony. The wax pockets are eight in 

 number for each worker-bee. They are located on the under side 

 of the abdomen, four on each side. By watching the bees at 

 times such as above mentioned, the little wax scales can be seen 

 protruding between the segments of the abdomen. The author 

 is not sufficiently gifted to describe the wonderful manner in 

 which they utilize these minute scales and the way they manipu 

 late them to form the perfect combs which are so essential to the 

 welfare of the colony. No description will satisfy the enthusias- 

 tic bee-keeper who must see it all for himself. By providing 

 an observation hive at the proper season many interesting opera- 

 tions may be seen. The worker may be seen to take the wax 

 scale in her jaws and to knead it, apparently, after which it is 

 added to the partially built comb which her predecessors have 

 started. But a moment is thus occupied when she moves away 

 and her place is taken by another who also adds her portion. 

 The work is done very much as though men in building a wall 

 each brought a single brick and put it in place and went away. 

 Yet in spite of the apparent hit and miss method of building, 

 there is no more wonderful or more perfect structure than the 

 combs of the honey-bee. 



Wax melts at a low temperature, as many a bee-keeper has 

 learned to his cost when brood combs have been left exposed to 

 the hot sun on a summer day. At times the heat is sufficient to 

 melt the combs within the hives, especially when they are sur- 

 rounded by high board fences, dense undergrowth, or other ob- 

 struction that prevents a breeze from reaching them, or if the 

 hives are not well ventilated. 



The young bees do most of the work of comb building, as 

 the ability to secrete wax declines with advancing age. In case of 

 necessity old bees will build combs, although apparently they 

 secrete wax less readily and in smaller quantities than the 

 younger ones. 



