Glands that secrete beeswax, which are in pairs, four pairs, on the underside of the last four abdominal segments.

Beeswax is a complex substance bees secrete to manufacture and repair combs. These waxy combs are a series of interlocking hexagonal shaped tubes composed of fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and proteins. The easiest way to explain beeswax is by saying that it’s a secretion produced by worker bees.

When new beeswax is developed, it’s yellow in color. The reason for that is due to the presence of pollen. Then over time, it gets darker and becomes golden yellow. It will turn brown after contact with bees and propolis.

Beeswax remains solid throughout a wide temperature range. It becomes brittle when the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius and has a melting point at 64.5 degrees Celsius. That means that the honeycomb can withstand temperature fluctuations from one season to the other. That’s important so that the honey bee colony can survive in the heat and the cold.

See: “How Bees Make Wax – Understanding the Science Behind Beeswax”