Wax Production

[chiefman]

I was wondering what is the maximum amount of wax a bee could produce in one day.

[beegee]

I'm sure there is a guesstimate somewhere, but I think it depends a lot on nectar flow, honey stores, pollen volume, being queenright, the race of bee, the age of the bees, the climate, environment,temperature, etc.

According to the Hive & Honeybee,(Dadant & Sons, Inc, c.1975) it was measured that it took 3.8 kilograms of honey to produce 435 grams of wax in building comb on foundation..

Dr. Sammataro reports that,optimally, 10,000 bees will make 1 lb. of beeswax in 3 days. 1 lb. of beeswax will make 35,000 wax cells that will store 22 lbs of honey. There are 500,000 wax scales(1/8"diameter)per pound. Wax secretion only occurs at between 91-97 degrees Farenheit(Source:The Beekeeper's Handbook; Diana Sammataro and Alphone Avitabile; copyright Cornell University 1998)

[Michael Bush]

According to those numbers that is 0.000533... ounces of wax per bee per day.

[cochran500]

Do ya'll believe that the temperature numbers are accurate?

[beegee]

I don't know if the temps are accurate or not. That sort of stuff is best left to the researchers(IMO)who seem to have a keen intrest in such stuff. Given the effort the bees exert to keep the hive at a constant temp, I'd say yes.

[Michael Bush]

I don't think that is the outside temerature, but the temperature inside the cluster.

[A Devries]

My bees seem to drop some wax from time to time. It passes throught the bottom screen and comes to rest on the white cardboard under the screen. It's quite clear and very small. From close inspection somone has lost several legs and a couple of wingsas well. There is also a bit of saw dust( everything was new)but thankfully no mites.

[Michael Bush]

I would guess the ones that lost the legs and wings lost their lives first and they fell off when dragging them out. There are always wax scales. Even more wax after winter from uncapping.