How many cells?
Given that a Dadant brood frame measures 410 mm/265 mm (internal dimensions) and that a cell is approximately ~5 mm wide, how many cells are there on both sides of this frame?
- ~ 5,300
- ~ 7,200
- ~ 8,600
See answer
Correct answer: 3
8,692. The visible part of each cell is a regular hexagon with a side length of ~3 mm; the width is ~5 mm and the area is ~23 mm².
The depth of a cell is ~11.5 mm. The thickness of its walls is about one twentieth of a millimeter. The base of each cell is backed against three others by a surface formed of three diamonds (rhombi).
The cells are not arranged perfectly horizontally. They are angled 7 to 8 degrees upward to prevent honey from flowing out of the cells.
Bees spontaneously build cells of about 5 mm in diameter (dimensions vary according to bee strains and the purpose of the cells: 4.8 mm for brood cells and 5.3 mm for honey cells). Commercial wax foundation typically has cells measuring 5.4 to 5.7 mm, i.e., ~800 per dm².
Each Dadant brood frame has internal dimensions of ~41 × 26.5 cm. It therefore has a theoretical maximum capacity of 4,346 cells of 5 mm width per side, i.e., 8,692 for both sides of the frame.
The internal volume of the cells decreases over time as successive generations emerge in them. For this reason and for sanitary considerations, a drawn comb should not be kept for more than three years (over time it darkens, a sign that it should be replaced).
To learn more:
► Wax and combs
► Frame renewal
► Beeswax – a very precious asset
► Wax production by bees