Honeybee Nests: Composition, Structure, Function

This work, a sequel to Honeybees and Wax published nearly 30 years ago, starts with a brief introduction and discussion of nesting sites, their spaces and densities, self-organization of nest contents, and interspecific utilization of beeswax. The following chapters cover communication by vibrations and scents and wax secretion, and discuss the queen in relation to the combs. Discussions on completed nests include the significance of brood, the roles of pollen and nectar flow, and comb-building, and are followed by a triad of related chapters on the construction of cells and combs and their energetic costs. An in-depth examination of the conversion of wax scales into combs, the material properties of scale and comb waxes, and the wax gland complex are presented. The next chapters are devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the literature on the chemistry and synthesis of beeswax, and, finally, the material properties of honeybee silk are highlighted.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 General Introduction
Chapter 2 Nesting: Sites, Space and Density in Comb-Building
Chapter 3 Self-Organization of Nest Contents
Chapter 4 Intraspecific and Interspecific Comb-Building
Chapter 5 Communication by Vibrations and Scents in the Comb
Chapter 6 Wax Secretion, Comb Construction and the Queen
Chapter 7 The Significance of Brood
Chapter 8 The Role of Pollen in Honeybee Colonies
Chapter 9 Nectar Flows and Comb-Building
Chapter 10 Construction of Combs
Chapter 11 Energetics of Honey/Beeswax Conversion
Chapter 12 Construction of Cells
Chapter 13 Conversion of Wax Scales into Comb Wax
Chapter 14 Material Properties of Scale and Comb Wax
Chapter 15 The Wax Gland Complex
Chapter 16 The Chemistry of Beeswax
Chapter 17 Synthesis of Beeswax
Chapter 18 Material Properties of Honeybee Silk