Honeycomb construction on designed foundations reveals geometry-dependent developmental pathways.

ABSTRACT: Honeycomb construction by honeybees is a classical example of collective biological structure formation, yet how ordered cell patterns develop under imposed geometric constraints remains insufficiently understood. Here, we experimentally investigated comb development by introducing 3D-printed designed foundations into an active honeybee colony and comparing conditions that differed in lattice symmetry and scale. The foundations consisted of three hexagonal lattices with nominal across-flats opening sizes of 5.0, 6.7, and 20 mm, and a square lattice with a nominal opening side length of 5.4 mm. On the small and medium hexagonal foundations, construction proceeded through local wax attachment, formation of dome-like protrusions, lateral expansion, and incorporation into a more continuous pla

SUBMITTER: Narumi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC13473655 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature