Beeswax is a yellow substance produced by glands on the underside of the abdomen in worker honey bees. The wax oozes from the glands in small scales, and the worker bees pick it off and make honeycombs out of it. Honeycombs are used for storing honey, holding eggs, and growing new bees. People get beeswax from the honeycomb after they have extracted the honey. They melt the comb in boiling water. The wax rises to the surface, and they dip it off. They then melt the beeswax again and filter it to remove impurities. Beeswax is used in such products as adhesives, candles, chewing gum, cosmetics, lubricants, and polishes. See also Honey; Bee (Making wax).
