Discussion»Questions»Animals (Wild)» When bees create their honeycombs, do they KNOW they're hexagonally-shaped, or is that beyond their level of understanding? ~
They are not hexagonal shaped, they are bee shaped. The pattern bears an overall resemblance to hexagons because you were taught to see hexagons. If you didn't know the word, you wouldn't notice.
There is evidence to prove that bees understand that the hexagon is the most spatially utilizing shape, that is, a group of hexagons makes the maximum use of space per square unit of measure, which is why they elect to use this shape for the cells of their hives as opposed to others.
Did the volcanic fissure that made these hexagonal and square basalt pillars understand geometry? It's possible that bees are born with a genetically inherited behavior pattern that causes them to mindlessly create hexagons much like birds instinctively know to flap their wing and "learn" to fly. I'm just saying that's another possibility. And what about squares? Aren't they an equally efficient use of space and bee's wax?
Not Sure 