the orientation of cell rows with
one pair of parallel horizontal or vertical
walls has been called “horizontal” or “vertical”
cell orientation (Wedmore 1929). 

In the combs from skeps, these two orientations
were equally frequent, with intermediate
orientations seldom occurring
(Thompson 1930). Beeswax sheets with
cell bases of only vertical orientation have
been used for over a century as a foundation
for comb building in movable frame
hives and this orientation was even called
"right way" in contrast to "wrong way"
horizontal orientation. 

Although the orientation of comb
cells is evidently not of vital importance for
honeybees, the question still remains as to
why they choose one or another orientation

Are there any factors determining
the orientation of hexagons during
the building of the comb? In the wild
nests of honey bees, both types of comb
orientation can be found in a single nest
(Taber and Owens 1970). Combs built
from two or several independent starting
sites on the same top bar were also observed.
Parts of the resulting comb had
a different cell orientation.

the orientation of cells in
the combs depends on the orientation
of the first cell built by bees.

SOURCE:

Shumakova, I., & Komissar, A. IS THE ORIENTATION OF CELLS IN THE NATURAL HONEY BEE COMB, CHOSEN BY BEES, RANDOM? Journal of Apicultural Science Vol. 50 No. 2 2006

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