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PETS & ANIMALS

True Facts: The Mystery Of How Bees Build

Ze Frank | May 28, 2026



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Merch: https://ze-true-store.myshopify.com/
TF Educational channel: ⁨@truefactseducational9288

Thank you:
Dr. Guy Theraulaz, CNRS
Dr. Clint Penick, Auburn University
Dr. Vince Gallo, Queen Mary University London
Dr. Paul Siefert, Institut für Bienenkunde
Grace Cope
Dr. Frederic Libersat, Ben Gurion University
Bee in a bag photo: https://naturefriendmagazine.com/plastic-bag-bees/

Citations
Bader C et al. Computational methods for the characterization of Apis mellifera comb architecture. 2022. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03328-6

Cane JH. The Extraordinary Alkali Bee, Nomia melanderi (Halictidae), the World’s Only Intensively Managed Ground-Nesting Bee. 2024. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-020623-013716

Cope G. The evolution of honeycomb. 2022.

Downing HA, Jeanne R. Nest construction by the paper wasp, Polistes: a test of stigmergy theory. 1988.

Cardoso SSS et al. The bee Tetragonula builds its comb like a crystal. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsif.20200187

Chui SX et al. Functional resin use in solitary bees. 2022. doi:10.1111/een.13103
Eggs B et al. Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps. 2023. doi:10.1186/s12983-023-00503-1

da Luz, G.F., Campos, L.A.d.O., Zanuncio, J.C. et al. Auxiliary brood cell construction in nests of the stingless bee Plebeia lucii (Apidae: Meliponini). Apidologie 48, 681–691 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-017-0513-7

Fateryga AV. The nest structure in four wasp species of the genus Euodynerus Dalla Torre (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Eumeninae). 2013. doi:10.1134/S0013873813030027

Franklin R et al. Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Apis mellifera Honeycomb Construction by 4D X-ray Microscopy. 2022. doi:10.1002/adma.202202361

Gallo V, Chittka L. Cognitive Aspects of Comb-Building in the Honeybee?. 2018. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00900

Gallo V, Chittka L. Stigmergy versus behavioral flexibility and planning in honeybee comb construction. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2111310118

Genise JF. Basic Architecture of Soil Nesting Wasps and Bees. In: Ichnoentomology. Springer; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28210-7_9

Gharooni-Fard G et al. Honeybees adapt to a range of comb cell sizes by merging, tilting, and layering their construction. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003253

Heyde A et al. Self-organized biotectonics of termite nests. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2006985118
Karsai I, Theraulaz G. Nest building in a social wasp: Postures and constraints (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). 1995.

Klein BA, Busby MK. Slumber in a cell: honeycomb used by honey bees for food, brood, heating… and sleeping. 2020. doi:10.7717/peerj.9583

Litman JR. Under the radar: detection avoidance in brood parasitic bees. 2019. doi:10.1098/rstb.2018.0196

Khuong A et al. Stigmergic construction and topochemical information shape ant nest architecture. 2016. doi:10.1073/pnas.1509829113

Matthews RW, Matthews JR. Nesting Behavior of Abispa ephippium (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae): Extended Parental Care in an Australian Mason Wasp. 2009. doi:10.1155/2009/851694

Mauss V et al. Description of the nest of the pollen wasp Celonites jousseaumei Du Buysson, 1906 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae). 2022. doi:10.3897/jhr.93.93865

Mauss V, Müller A. First contribution to the bionomics of the pollen wasp Celonites fischeri Spinola, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) in Cyprus. 2014. doi:10.3897/JHR.39.7841

Nikelshparg MI et al. Extraordinary drilling capabilities of the tiny parasitoid Eupelmus messene Walker (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae). 2023. doi:10.3897/jhr.96.107786

Rƶmer D et al. Selection and spatial arrangement of building materials during the construction of nest turrets by grass-cutting ants. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsos.201312

Polk WLS et al. Observations on the Nest Architecture of the Solitary Bee Anthophora abrupta (Hymenoptera: Apidae). 2025. doi:10.18474/JES25-47

Siefert P et al. Honey bee behaviours within the hive: Insights from long-term video analysis. 2021. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247323

Smith A. An investigation of the mechanisms underlying nest construction in the mud wasp Paralastor sp. (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). 1978. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(78)90023-4

Smith ML et al. Honey bees and social wasps reach convergent architectural solutions to nest-building problems. 2023. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3002211

Smith ML et al. Imperfect comb construction reveals the architectural abilities of honeybees. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2103605118

Theraulaz G et al. Voyage au centre des termitiĆØres et des fourmiliĆØres. 2012. URL: pourlascience.fr/sd/ethologie/voyage-au-centre-des-termitieres-et-des-fourmilieres-6964.php

Theraulaz G, Bonabeau E. Coordination in Distributed Building. 1995. doi:10.1126/science.269.5224.686

Yang S et al. Structure of Fejes Tóth cells in natural honey bee combs. 2022. doi:10.1007/s13592-022-00915-8

Written by Ze Frank

Comments

This post currently has 39 comments.

  1. @EarthTouchTV

    May 28, 2026 at 8:10 pm

    The hexagon is nature's way of saying 'I did the math so you don't have to.' The bee did not do the math. The bee just… knew. Which is somehow more unsettling.

  2. @JKa244

    May 28, 2026 at 8:10 pm

    Hexagons are the bestagons.

    Fun fact: Saturn has a hexagonal weather system at its north pole, formed by circular weather systems just south of the pole sorta squishing together.

    Hexagonal honeycomb is that shape for a similar reason – bees build round cells but they squish together to form that hexagonal shape.

  3. @thelonewrangler1008

    May 28, 2026 at 8:10 pm

    Wait, so you're telling me the bees haven't unlocked sound frequencies and don't shape those hexagons with vibrations? Speaking of hippy theory. Psychedelics really like showing me hexagonal shapes, like, a lot of them

  4. @TFTGGW

    May 28, 2026 at 8:10 pm

    I like bee butts and I cannot lie
    All you pollinators can't deny
    When a bug flies in
    With a fuzzy abdomen
    And cirbiculae on their legs
    You get stung!

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