Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join me at patreon.com/truefacts
Merch: ze-true-store.myshopify.com
TF Educational channel: @truefactseducational9288
Thank you:
Dr. Guy Theraulaz, CNRS
Dr. Clint Penick, Auburn University
Dr. Vince Gallo, Queen Mary University London
Dr. Paul Siefert, Institut für Bienenkunde
Grace Cope
Dr. Frederic Libersat, Ben Gurion University
Bee in a bag photo: naturefriendmagazine.com/plastic-bag-bees
Citations
Bader C et al. Computational methods for the characterization of Apis mellifera comb architecture. 2022. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03328-6
Cane JH. The Extraordinary Alkali Bee, Nomia melanderi (Halictidae), the World's Only Intensively Managed Ground-Nesting Bee. 2024. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-020623-013716
Cope G. The evolution of honeycomb. 2022.
Downing HA, Jeanne R. Nest construction by the paper wasp, Polistes: a test of stigmergy theory. 1988.
Cardoso SSS et al. The bee Tetragonula builds its comb like a crystal. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsif.20200187
Chui SX et al. Functional resin use in solitary bees. 2022. doi:10.1111/een.13103
Eggs B et al. Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps. 2023. doi:10.1186/s12983-023-00503-1
da Luz, G.F., Campos, L.A.d.O., Zanuncio, J.C. et al. Auxiliary brood cell construction in nests of the stingless bee Plebeia lucii (Apidae: Meliponini). Apidologie 48, 681–691 (2017). doi.org/10.1007/s13592-017-0513-7
Fateryga AV. The nest structure in four wasp species of the genus Euodynerus Dalla Torre (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Eumeninae). 2013. doi:10.1134/S0013873813030027
Franklin R et al. Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Apis mellifera Honeycomb Construction by 4D X-ray Microscopy. 2022. doi:10.1002/adma.202202361
Gallo V, Chittka L. Cognitive Aspects of Comb-Building in the Honeybee?. 2018. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00900
Gallo V, Chittka L. Stigmergy versus behavioral flexibility and planning in honeybee comb construction. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2111310118
Genise JF. Basic Architecture of Soil Nesting Wasps and Bees. In: Ichnoentomology. Springer; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28210-7_9
Gharooni-Fard G et al. Honeybees adapt to a range of comb cell sizes by merging, tilting, and layering their construction. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003253
Heyde A et al. Self-organized biotectonics of termite nests. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2006985118
Karsai I, Theraulaz G. Nest building in a social wasp: Postures and constraints (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). 1995.
Klein BA, Busby MK. Slumber in a cell: honeycomb used by honey bees for food, brood, heating… and sleeping. 2020. doi:10.7717/peerj.9583
Litman JR. Under the radar: detection avoidance in brood parasitic bees. 2019. doi:10.1098/rstb.2018.0196
Khuong A et al. Stigmergic construction and topochemical information shape ant nest architecture. 2016. doi:10.1073/pnas.1509829113
Matthews RW, Matthews JR. Nesting Behavior of Abispa ephippium (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae): Extended Parental Care in an Australian Mason Wasp. 2009. doi:10.1155/2009/851694
Mauss V et al. Description of the nest of the pollen wasp Celonites jousseaumei Du Buysson, 1906 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae). 2022. doi:10.3897/jhr.93.93865
Mauss V, Müller A. First contribution to the bionomics of the pollen wasp Celonites fischeri Spinola, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) in Cyprus. 2014. doi:10.3897/JHR.39.7841
Nikelshparg MI et al. Extraordinary drilling capabilities of the tiny parasitoid Eupelmus messene Walker (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae). 2023. doi:10.3897/jhr.96.107786
Römer D et al. Selection and spatial arrangement of building materials during the construction of nest turrets by grass-cutting ants. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsos.201312
Polk WLS et al. Observations on the Nest Architecture of the Solitary Bee Anthophora abrupta (Hymenoptera: Apidae). 2025. doi:10.18474/JES25-47
Siefert P et al. Honey bee behaviours within the hive: Insights from long-term video analysis. 2021. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247323
Smith A. An investigation of the mechanisms underlying nest construction in the mud wasp Paralastor sp. (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). 1978. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(78)90023-4
Smith ML et al. Honey bees and social wasps reach convergent architectural solutions to nest-building problems. 2023. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3002211
Smith ML et al. Imperfect comb construction reveals the architectural abilities of honeybees. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2103605118
Theraulaz G et al. Voyage au centre des termitières et des fourmilières. 2012. URL: pourlascience.fr/sd/ethologie/voyage-au-centre-des-termitieres-et-des-fourmilieres-6964.php
Theraulaz G, Bonabeau E. Coordination in Distributed Building. 1995. doi:10.1126/science.269.5224.686
Yang S et al. Structure of Fejes Tóth cells in natural honey bee combs. 2022. doi:10.1007/s13592-022-00915-8
Join me at patreon.com/truefacts
Merch: ze-true-store.myshopify.com
TF Educational channel: @truefactseducational9288
Thank you:
Dr. Guy Theraulaz, CNRS
Dr. Clint Penick, Auburn University
Dr. Vince Gallo, Queen Mary University London
Dr. Paul Siefert, Institut für Bienenkunde
Grace Cope
Dr. Frederic Libersat, Ben Gurion University
Bee in a bag photo: naturefriendmagazine.com/plastic-bag-bees
Citations
Bader C et al. Computational methods for the characterization of Apis mellifera comb architecture. 2022. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03328-6
Cane JH. The Extraordinary Alkali Bee, Nomia melanderi (Halictidae), the World's Only Intensively Managed Ground-Nesting Bee. 2024. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-020623-013716
Cope G. The evolution of honeycomb. 2022.
Downing HA, Jeanne R. Nest construction by the paper wasp, Polistes: a test of stigmergy theory. 1988.
Cardoso SSS et al. The bee Tetragonula builds its comb like a crystal. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsif.20200187
Chui SX et al. Functional resin use in solitary bees. 2022. doi:10.1111/een.13103
Eggs B et al. Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps. 2023. doi:10.1186/s12983-023-00503-1
da Luz, G.F., Campos, L.A.d.O., Zanuncio, J.C. et al. Auxiliary brood cell construction in nests of the stingless bee Plebeia lucii (Apidae: Meliponini). Apidologie 48, 681–691 (2017). doi.org/10.1007/s13592-017-0513-7
Fateryga AV. The nest structure in four wasp species of the genus Euodynerus Dalla Torre (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Eumeninae). 2013. doi:10.1134/S0013873813030027
Franklin R et al. Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Apis mellifera Honeycomb Construction by 4D X-ray Microscopy. 2022. doi:10.1002/adma.202202361
Gallo V, Chittka L. Cognitive Aspects of Comb-Building in the Honeybee?. 2018. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00900
Gallo V, Chittka L. Stigmergy versus behavioral flexibility and planning in honeybee comb construction. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2111310118
Genise JF. Basic Architecture of Soil Nesting Wasps and Bees. In: Ichnoentomology. Springer; 2017. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28210-7_9
Gharooni-Fard G et al. Honeybees adapt to a range of comb cell sizes by merging, tilting, and layering their construction. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003253
Heyde A et al. Self-organized biotectonics of termite nests. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2006985118
Karsai I, Theraulaz G. Nest building in a social wasp: Postures and constraints (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). 1995.
Klein BA, Busby MK. Slumber in a cell: honeycomb used by honey bees for food, brood, heating… and sleeping. 2020. doi:10.7717/peerj.9583
Litman JR. Under the radar: detection avoidance in brood parasitic bees. 2019. doi:10.1098/rstb.2018.0196
Khuong A et al. Stigmergic construction and topochemical information shape ant nest architecture. 2016. doi:10.1073/pnas.1509829113
Matthews RW, Matthews JR. Nesting Behavior of Abispa ephippium (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae): Extended Parental Care in an Australian Mason Wasp. 2009. doi:10.1155/2009/851694
Mauss V et al. Description of the nest of the pollen wasp Celonites jousseaumei Du Buysson, 1906 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae). 2022. doi:10.3897/jhr.93.93865
Mauss V, Müller A. First contribution to the bionomics of the pollen wasp Celonites fischeri Spinola, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) in Cyprus. 2014. doi:10.3897/JHR.39.7841
Nikelshparg MI et al. Extraordinary drilling capabilities of the tiny parasitoid Eupelmus messene Walker (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae). 2023. doi:10.3897/jhr.96.107786
Römer D et al. Selection and spatial arrangement of building materials during the construction of nest turrets by grass-cutting ants. 2020. doi:10.1098/rsos.201312
Polk WLS et al. Observations on the Nest Architecture of the Solitary Bee Anthophora abrupta (Hymenoptera: Apidae). 2025. doi:10.18474/JES25-47
Siefert P et al. Honey bee behaviours within the hive: Insights from long-term video analysis. 2021. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247323
Smith A. An investigation of the mechanisms underlying nest construction in the mud wasp Paralastor sp. (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). 1978. doi:10.1016/0003-3472(78)90023-4
Smith ML et al. Honey bees and social wasps reach convergent architectural solutions to nest-building problems. 2023. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3002211
Smith ML et al. Imperfect comb construction reveals the architectural abilities of honeybees. 2021. doi:10.1073/pnas.2103605118
Theraulaz G et al. Voyage au centre des termitières et des fourmilières. 2012. URL: pourlascience.fr/sd/ethologie/voyage-au-centre-des-termitieres-et-des-fourmilieres-6964.php
Theraulaz G, Bonabeau E. Coordination in Distributed Building. 1995. doi:10.1126/science.269.5224.686
Yang S et al. Structure of Fejes Tóth cells in natural honey bee combs. 2022. doi:10.1007/s13592-022-00915-8
