What is Beeswax: The Building Blocks Of The Hive (2024)

FAQs

What is beeswax block used for? ›

Beeswax blocks have a wide variety of uses. Beeswax is widely used for many crafts including candle making, sewing, jewelry making and batik. Beeswax is also an ingredient in cosmetic products such as salves, lotions and lip balms.

Beeswax consists of hydrocarbons, alcohols, free acids, and esters as well as other materials (Garnier 2002, Kimpe 2002, Tulloch 1972). Although the melting point of beeswax is about 60° C, it is interesting to note that wax is secreted in a liquid state at ambient temperatures.

Honeycomb is basically beeswax and raw honey. The beeswax has very little nutritional value with the exception of trace amounts of vitamin A.

Coating the wood hive in wax both preserves the wood and helps protect the bees from diseases. Protecting bees from disease is very important since many bee colonies are starting to die off. Bees are also more likely to accept a wax-coated hive than a painted or stained hive.

Beeswax is used to make the foundation and honeycomb hexagonal cells used for raising the brood and storage of honey and pollen (Bogdanvov, 2016). The wax cells are used to cradle larvae, and are storage cells for pollen and honey, and the entire wax foundation supports the mass of working bees.

That's because, yes, you can eat food grade beeswax! In fact, it's likely in more of the foods you eat than you think. Renowned chefs use beeswax in cooking because of its incredible sheen and subtle honey undertones. You'll find it being used as a glaze for turkeys, hams, pastries, and candies.

Beeswax forms the structure of the hive, which also serves as honey storage. The beeswax comb is constructed around the brood nest, where the queen deposits eggs. The honey is then stored in the combs around the brood nest but will be moved if the hive needs more space for the eggs laid by the queen.

noun. bees·​wax ˈbēz-ˌwaks. : a substance that is secreted by honeybees and is used by them for constructing the honeycomb, that is a dull, typically yellow solid that is plastic when warm, and that is composed primarily of a mixture of esters, hydrocarbons, and fatty acids : wax sense 1.

A wax is a simple lipid which is an ester of a long-chain alcohol and a fatty acid. The alcohol may contain from 12-32 carbon atoms. Waxes are found in nature as coatings on leaves and stems. The wax prevents the plant from losing excessive amounts of water.

Honeycomb is a natural product made by bees to store their larvae, honey, and pollen. All of the honeycomb can be eaten — including the waxy cells and raw honey they contain.

Is it healthy to eat the wax from honeycomb? ›

It is perfectly safe (and delicious) to consume both the honey and the waxy hexagonal containers of the comb. In fact, the added chewy texture of the comb is a bonus. Honeycomb varies in taste (just like honey) depending on the environment and which flowers the bees predominantly pollinated to produce nectar.

Honeycomb is rich in healthy carbohydrates and antioxidants, which can boost the immune system. The beeswax in honeycomb also contains long-chain fatty acids, which are good for the heart as well as for lowering bad cholesterol levels. In addition, beeswax contains natural alcohols with hepatoprotective qualities.

Beeswax has been reported to have antimicrobial properties. Beeswax may inhibit growth of gram negative bacteria, gram positive bacteria, and fungi. (4, 5, 6) In addition, beeswax impregnated cloth has been reported to exhibit biostatic and biocidal activity under laboratory conditions.

Many beekeepers will place an empty hive body above the inner cover for added protection against the cold. Some beekeepers will place different substrates within the space above the inner cover to soak up the humidity. I have heard some using compressed cardboard or even hay.

In the past, beeswax and honey were sometimes harvested through complete destruction of the hive. However, commercial beeswax operations may be considered cruelty-free if harvesting is done at a slow rate, with enough of the hive left intact so as not to harm the overall colony.

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Where does beeswax come from? Beeswax comes from honeybees and it is fascinating to think they actually produce the material they need to build their nests. Comb, which is the foundation of a colony of bees, is made from beeswax and is used to house brood as well as store honey and pollen.

Beeswax is considered nonpoisonous, but it may cause a blockage in the intestines if someone swallows a large amount. If an ointment is swallowed, the medicine component may also cause side effects or poisoning.

The volatile components of the beeswax evaporate when we heat the wax and can be harmful for your heath, so, again do not overheat the beeswax, and always see to it that have enough ventilation in your studio. If you feel a light headache or you eyes itch, switch of the wax and ventilate thoroughly.

Antibacterial

Like honey, beeswax has antibacterial properties helping keep things clean and reducing risks of contamination. This makes it a common ingredient in skin treatments, salves, and more.

Can you eat beeswax from the hive? ›

Yes! Beeswax is edible, and it is packed full of vitamins and nutrients. The whole honeycomb can be eaten. That includes the waxy cells and the honey inside of it.

Melt and Render the Wax

Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, and carefully place your bundle of honeycomb inside. As the comb heats up, this will melt the wax and allow it to seep out of the cheesecloth. Use a pair of tongs to squeeze the cheesecloth and ensure you get as much beeswax out as possible.

Beeswax ranges in color from almost white to black, although it is typically a shade along the yellow spectrum, appearing to be bright yellow, butterscotch yellow, or light amber. These colors are due to the pollen, resin, and gum content in the originating honey.

On average, beekeepers harvest about 50 pounds of surplus honey per colony per year. During honey harvest, beeswax can also be collected to use for lighting, as a home or commercial wax, or for use in wax-based products. The normal yield is 1-2 pounds of beeswax per 100 pounds of honey harvested.

The production of beeswax is essential to the bee colony. It is used to construct the combs in which the bees raise their brood and into which they store pollen and surplus honey for the winter.

Essentially, waxes consist of a long-chain fatty acid linked through an ester oxygen to a long-chain alcohol. These molecules are completely water-insoluble and generally solid at biological temperatures.

Millions of of these waxes are produced annually, and they are used in adhesives, cosmetics, sealants and lubricants, insecticides, and UV protection. They are also used in foods like chewing gum. Figure 3.4. 1: Generic structure formula of bee waxes: Ester myricyl palmitate is a major component of beeswax.

Wax occurs in almost all vascular plants as a constituent of the cuticle, although few plants have pronounced accumulations. Wax acts as a protective coating on the epidermis of leaves, stems, and fruits, reducing desiccation or abrasion, or resisting pest attack.

The honeycomb comes into play when the bee gets back to the hive. The comb itself — a network of hexagonal cylinders — is made from waxy secretions of worker bees. As these cylinders are filled with honey, they are capped with yet another layer of wax.

Beauty benefits of honeycomb include its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These help to remove toxins from the body and skin while fighting free radicals to promote a warm, natural glow and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

What happens if you swallow honeycomb? ›

Honeycomb is made up of hexagonal wax cells made by bees, and each cell is full of raw honey. You can eat honeycomb, wax and all! After enjoying the burst of sweetness, some folks prefer to chew the wax like gum and discard it, but there's no harm in swallowing it, either.

With beeswax, the soft waxy cells can be chewed as gum and it's very good for your teeth! When chewing the beeswax, healthy, active biological compounds enter your body. While beeswax helps clean your teeth and gums, it also removes plaque and disinfects your mouth.

Since ancient times, beeswax has been a staple cosmetic ingredient. It has numerous skin uses, but can also be beneficial for your hair. From moisturizing to keeping flyaways in place, the natural formula can work wonders for both head and facial hair.

You can eat pieces of honeycomb by themselves as a sweet snack. You can also put honeycomb in a smoothie as a sweetener or add it to a salad or a charcuterie board spread. Honeycomb pairs particularly well with Brie cheese. You can also top warm bread, English muffins, waffles, or vanilla ice cream with honeycomb.

Honeycomb can boost your energy. There is evidence of how the pollens, vitamins, minerals, proteins and natural sugars found in honeycomb provide the best balance of simple carbohydrates for energy.

Honeycomb's low GI, antioxidants, and nutrients make it an ideal low blood sugar snack or everyday sweetener. Swap sugar for honeycomb to give your body the balanced energy it craves.

Maintain good apiary hygiene

Discarded comb, burr comb and beeswax scraps left around the apiary will attract beetles and encourage them to breed.

The term “biodegrading” refers to the decomposition of materials by living organisms like fungi and bacteria. Beeswax is biodegradable because it is an organic material. Amazingly, it can complete this process in as little as one month.

Beeswax can easily become damaged by localized overheating and if it ignites can burn more ferociously than any chip pan fire. Beeswax does not boil - it just gets hotter and hotter until it ignites. Wax should only be melted in stainless steel, plastic, or tin plated containers.

A colony will need the equivalent of about 18kg of honey or sugar syrup to survive the winter.

How much honey should you leave in the hive for winter? ›

The minimum amount of honey you should leave on your full-sized colony is equal to one full deep box, or about 90-100 pounds (this is the full weight of the box, frames, bees, and honey). If you are overwintering nucs, each nuc should have the equivalent of 8 deep frames full of honey.

It's never too cold to open a hive, especially when the bees inside deparately need food. If you do nothing, they will die for sure, so ignore the temperature and just do it.

Vegans typically classify honey and beeswax to be non-vegan because they consider the bees are 'exploited' by harvesting the honey and that their health is sacrificed when the honey and wax are harvested – hence not adhering to this above definition.

Beeswax is not Cruelty- Free. Factory- farming of beeswax is happening. Beeswax has become an acceptable and widespread ingredient in so many natural and clean beauty products especially lip balms. Beeswax is often used as a natural alternative to petroleum-based products, but bees need their own beeswax.

Bees do not eat wax. They use it to build and that's all. That said, many a beekeeper has been confused by their bees apparently eating their own honeycomb. It's all a misunderstanding though.

Beeswax is easy to apply and re-apply

Apply the Beeswax Polish onto a lint-free cloth and rub into the wooden surface following the direction of the grain. Leave for 3-4 minutes and buff over with a clean cloth to restore the lustre. Additional coats can be applied for extra protection or if applying to bare wood.

Description. Bookbinding genuine Beeswax is used to lubricate thread and eliminate tangles.

Pure beeswax whether in blocks or Comb Foundations, has an almost indefinite shelf life if stored in cool dry conditions. Samples which are thousands of years old have been tested and found to have almost identical properties to freshly produced beeswax.

Beeswax contains high-carbon paraffin which not only feeds into the wood but also seals and protects its surface, especially from moisture and sunlight. This ensures much needed durability especially for those furniture that are left sitting next to an open window or door, exposed to damp winds or even rainstorms.

Q. How often should you use beeswax on furniture? A. Hardwoods such as Oak, Mahogany and Walnut should be treated regularly with Beeswax Polish; three of four times a year will keep the wood in best condition.

Can you melt beeswax blocks? ›

The easiest way to clean beeswax is to melt it down to a liquid and strain it through a filtering material to remove impurities. To melt your beeswax, simply put your wax cappings or other un-rendered beeswax into a glass microwaveable container (again we like using Pyrex liquid measuring cups).

The beeswax helps to act as a binding agent that creates a natural stabilization amongst the ingredients; this waxy base ensures that the final product does not result in a firm, flaky texture but rather a smooth and soft final product.

Beeswax can be an attractive binder since it is a biodegradable and renewable material. Also, it attributes to the composite material a good rigidity after dry at room temperature.

Egyptians had various uses for beeswax, too. Beeswax was used in cosmetics, as well as in paintings, and even in some embalming practices. Beeswax was also important as a “wonderful, magical substance,” Kritsky says. “Beeswax burns with a very bright light and doesn't leave any ash.

Beeswax is the most natural and expensive wax you can buy. Beeswax doesn't require chemical processing, preservatives or UV stabilizers. The only thing you need to make beeswax is bees. Because beeswax is so expensive for candle-makers to purchase, they may use less expensive waxes to blend with their beeswax.

Beeswax & olive oil are all you need

It takes a couple of hours to cool but can be used immediately after. When combined, these simple oils form a semi-hard wax that you can massage into almost any wood to restore a beautiful sheen.

When beeswax candles burn, they clean the air like a great, natural, air purifier. Just like lightening, beeswax produces negative ions when burned. These negative ions attach to positive ions (like dust, pollen, mold, odor, toxins) floating in the air and in this process cleans the air.

Using beeswax on furniture can lead to it turning yellow over time. However, this can be prevented when using tung oil or another type of wooden surface finish is applied.