My granddaughter broke that silence by asking, “why they build on trees?” I replied, “From the perspective of the bees, it makes good sense to live near the source of buds and blooms rich in nectar and pollen from which they make food and construction materials” She had a supplementary question – “if we have terrace gardens all over the city, with plants flush with buds and blooms, will the honeybees like it?” I replied, “The high-rise dwellers would rather prefer fumigation than maintaining gardens, for the sake of honeybees!
The resinous mixture collected from tree buds, mixed with wax and bee saliva (enzymes) is this bee-made Propolis adhesive which is powerful, water resistant and antiseptic. The worker bees prepare a cavity free surface on the wall or ceiling, or bark of a tree and then coat that surface with a thin layer of propolis, to create a smooth, clean surface and sticky foundation. The bees have only tiny mandibles, to mold, smoothen and fuse this mixture to the surface before attaching the comb. The entire labour-intensive process is highly engineered for bond strength and durability to support the weight of the live comb. A beehive may store 10 to 15 kg of honey. There might be 5 to 10 thousand bees weighing 0.5 to 1.0 kg, living inside + the comb weight which has to be supported against gravity and forces generated by winds.
The chorus rose again, this time for another break and urging me to stop wandering in the park and get on with the next stage - the specialty of the honeycomb structure. Low on energy, we all trooped out for a lengthy break to feast on the food items on offer.
Becoming restive, the war machines and marine life buffs asked me, “. “Grandpa, you are going all over the park without telling us how a beehive is built. Lost your way or what? When will you come to the comb itself, it is dangling in mid-air” Sarcasm or satire, it gave me a chance to come out with more.
“Sure, let us see how. The forager worker bee is probably their site engineer to scout for a viable plot having accessibility and abundance of flora, within wingable distance to strike a barter deal. Plants depend on insects like the bees for pollination and for a fee - nectar and pollen, the bees are willing to go the extra mile!
The honeybees do it differently. The foundation for the comb is at the top and the house hangs upside down. When the comb is built on a high-rise building, it is also attached to the walls for additional support. They strengthen the foundation and attachment points with more wax. The beehive has to support the weight of honey and brood which might go up to 45 kg. The mixture of wax and adhesive propolis hardens to a very strong and permanent bond. The bees make use of gravity to help and guide the construction downwards - instinct or ingenuity!”.
The hexagonal cells allow for greater energy absorption, and the honeycomb is especially strong against compression and buckling forces. The hexagon shaped hollow cells result in lighter weight, reduced material usage. The distributed and interconnected cells offer better resistance.
My granddaughter asked, “Why the comb is smaller at the bottom and what happens in case of a cyclone?”
“Let me explain. Remember, the honeycomb hangs upside down. The base (nearer to the ground)) structure is formed by three intersecting rhombic plates. This geometry is more efficient, occupies a smaller space and interlocks the base with the cells on the opposite side of the comb. Now, the bees need less wax to close the base (bottom)!
In case of a cyclone, the force majeure clause will automatically come into play. Force majeure means ‘beyond one’s control’ like acts of nature or war etc. Th e beehive on a tree branch faces direct wind force and if built on tall buildings it has to bear the brunt of upward draft of winds also. Tree or tall building, its endurance is tested to destruction. During construction the bees have addressed compression and shearing loads and yet can’t claim the axiom- survival of the fittest!
She had this doubt. “Will the force majeure be applicable when we try to get at the stored honey?” I replied, “In the case of natural comb, any aggression unleashed on it, the bees have no other option but to declare force majeure to relocate or perish. A kilo of beeswax costs them about 8 kilo honey. Destruction of a beehive is that difficult for the bees to rebuild. They fare better in the apiaries. Harvesting of honey is done with minimal damage.”
Becoming excited, she asked, “Grandpa, “Like dairy milk, we do have dairy honey also but how nectar, pollen are converted to honey?”
It is a complex process and in its simple form it works like this. The female forager worker bees collect pollen, moisten it with nectar and saliva to produce the protein rich food/honey for the larvae and the colony. Normal collection is about 10 to 15 kg of dehydrated honey and in a good season this may go up to 25 to 45 kg. This excess quantity allows them to take up expansion activities. If not from an apiary, the honey we use is most probably stolen from the bees depriving them of food and expansion activities.”
My granddaughter had this doubt – what the honeybees do in the night?
“You will be surprised to know that beehive keeps humming in the night also. Young house bees will be busy turning nectar brought by the forager bees into the sweet honey. The forager bees, obviously tired from a day’s hard work sleep it off. Other bees go full blast at housekeeping chores.”
While narrating a story, I keep my eyes closed, an auto-reflex. These guys just used that opportunity to leave a paper bearing dozen questions, on my lap. Initially perplexed, soon I recollected that these guys had a supply of writing materials with them. Having exhausted all that I know, I bowled them over with a slower delivery – “why don’t you guys do these questions as a summer project work? Your parents and teachers will be happy. Don’t forget to include whatever I have told you so far.”
Absolute, deadpan expression left me in doubt, whether the war machine and marine life buffs are planning to retract their respective requests.
Back at home, Grandma enquired, “How was the trip? The granddaughter silently opened her book and pointed out to the half a page write up on honeybees and said, “You know what grandma, on this matter he told us a screenplay of a 3-hour horror movie!"
In a matter-of-fact voice, the grandma asked, “Was the screenplay that much painful than the sting of bees?"
Searching for me? I have other
engagements to attend to.
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