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But if you double the length of the sides on the hexagon, then you double the construction cost but quadruple the area. Should we conclude that bees should pref
by jstanley 5y ago
But if you double the length of the sides on the hexagon, then you double the construction cost but quadruple the area. Should we conclude that bees should prefer to make their hives out of a single giant hexagon?
- seanc 5y agoNo, not at all! The goal of the comb isn't just about fencing off area, it's about having functional chambers that can be used for things. The chamber size is fit to purpose; smaller cells for incubating worker bee larvae, larger cells for drones and queens. Even for honey and nectar storage, the cells are sized to a single serving (fortunately roughly the same size as a hatchery cell), so the bees can consume what they need while the rest stays safely sealed with wax caps.