> Wax comb was found to have a thermal conductivity of 0.36 x l0 -3 cal/cm sec °C.  At low air temperatures, honey bees, Apis mellifera L., form clusters inbetween the combs in their nests. The combs provide insulation and the bee behavior actually increases the insulating effectiveness of the combs. When they form a compact living layer over the wax comb, the conductivity can be reduced to 0.065 x 10-3 cal/cm sec °C.  

> The effectiveness of the comb is clearly seen when bees without comb are examined. With no comb, the same mass and volume of bees would require 39% more heat to maintain the same temperature differential. Insulation by the wax combs is provided by the combined effect of combs and behavioral response to low temperatures by the bees.

E.E. Southwick, 20 August 1984

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