What is the weight of a wax scale produced by the wax glands of bees?
- About 0.1 mg.
- About 1 mg.
- About 10 mg.
Show answer
Correct answer: 2.
About 1 mg.
Why?
A wax scale weighs a little less than 1 mg. The benchmark usually given is that about 1,250 scales are needed to produce 1 g of wax, which corresponds to about 0.8 mg per scale.
The answer “about 1 mg” is therefore the best approximation among the three proposals.
What to understand
Young wax-producing bees produce fine wax scales by means of their wax glands located under the abdomen. These scales are then kneaded, shaped and used to build the combs.
The production of wax represents a significant investment for the colony. With about 1 g of wax, the bees can build a comb surface of the order of 20 cm², counting both faces.
Key points
A wax scale is extremely light, but the construction of a comb requires a very large number of scales. Wax is therefore a precious resource in the colony, especially during a period of intense building.