Bees are typical social insects. The internal structure of the honeycomb is called the comb spleen. The comb spleen is made of beeswax and is composed of closely arranged honeycombs. All the buildings of the bee colony cannot be separated from beeswax. Therefore, beeswax is both a bee product and a honeycomb. Necessities for the survival of bee colonies.
1. Worker bees secreted wax
Beeswax is secreted by worker bees wax glands (specialized products of dermal cells). There are a pair of wax glands on the 4th-7th section of the abdomen of worker bees. The wax liquid secreted by wax glands is condensed into wax scales on the wax mirror. The hind feet collect these wax scales and move them to the mouthparts to chew to turn them into beeswax, but not all worker bees can secrete beeswax. In fact, the peak period for worker bees to secrete beeswax is 13 to 18 days old, and after 18 days of age, worker bees The wax glands will gradually degenerate.
2. Main function
The role of beeswax in the bee colony is to build the spleen and cover the hive (including feed room and larval house). Simply put, beeswax is the "concrete" of the bees. Beeswax is used in all buildings in the colony, such as the colony. When the middle comb spleen is too tight, worker bees will use beeswax to build the spleen. If the honey is fully brewed, the worker bees will use beeswax to cover it, and if the larvae are pupated, the worker bees will also use beeswax to cover it to promote the larvae. Development.
3. Refining process
The collection of beeswax is usually done during the flowering period. During the flowering period, bees produce more spleen in order to store more honey, and the honey will be sealed after it is brewed. When the honey is collected, the cover on the surface is cut off and collected. It is naturally secreted by bees. We use them to make beeswax. The beeswax made in this way is naturally edible and very safe. We don’t use wax for the old spleen because the old spleen takes too long and the quality is not good. The wax made is also relatively strong.
After the excess spleen and cover are collected, put them in the pot, add a certain amount of water to the pot, heat to melt, the wax liquid will be boiled out during the boiling process of the honeycomb, and there will also be fine honeycomb residues, which need to be hot. Filter out the fine slag, let it cool, and the beeswax will condense into a block, float on the water, and take it out. Sometimes there will be fine slag at the bottom of the beeswax. Then scrape it off and cook and filter out the wax residue. Repeatedly, you can get high-quality yellow beeswax. This is the boiling process of beeswax, and then we cut it into pieces and ship it, and customers can use it directly after receiving it.
The collection and boiling of beeswax takes a lot of time and is also a very slow process. It is hard to boil the wax. Nowadays, many so-called beeswaxes on the market are faked. Adding industrial wax is sold at a very cheap price. Beeswax is generally under certain circumstances. Only need to use it. Consumers don’t know much about beeswax. It is easy to be deceived. If you buy fake beeswax, especially for lipsticks, it is harmful. If you have any questions about beeswax or need beeswax, please contact me to introduce the answers for you.
4. Application areas
The history of the use of beeswax has been developed almost at the same time as honey. Modern processing technology has broadened the application fields of beeswax. For example, the cosmetics manufacturing industry can use beeswax to make cosmetics such as lipstick, lipstick, peppermint ointment, etc., and the pharmaceutical industry can use beeswax to make pills. Shells and medicines. The food industry can use beeswax to make food coatings, packaging, coats, etc., while the beekeeping industry can use beeswax to make nest foundations, wax bowls, etc. Place plays a very important and indispensable role.
