Wax gland

One of eight abdominal glands secreting the wax scales a bee builds comb from.

Bees

Definition

Active in workers of about twelve to eighteen days old. Each gland secretes a transparent scale under a milligram in weight, which the bee passes forward and chews into pliable white wax. Bees consume in the region of six to eight kilograms of honey to produce a kilogram of wax, which is why comb is reused for years.

See also

Other bees terms

Sources

Sources

  • The Biology of the Honey BeeHarvard University Press (1987) · Textbook

How sources are selected and weighted is set out in the sources and evidence policy.

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