Honey Comb is Placed in Framed and Tied In

South Jersey Beekeepers Association (SJBA) member, Dana Wilberg, fits a piece of honeycomb inside a frame. Secured by string, the comb and the frame will be placed in a hive where the bees will continue to draw out comb. Beeswax is produced by the female worker bee's wax glands. Optimal production of little flakes from the glands takes place over a period of about a week starting when they are approximately 10 days old.

The 95-degree temperature the bees maintain in the hive provides an ideal environment for the bees to work the wax by chewing it. They use the wax to build and repair comb and to cap developing larvae and ripe honey.


(Photo by Janet A. Katz)