Beehive

For the naturally occuring block, see Bee Nest.
Beehive

Beehive.png: Infobox image for Beehive the block in Minecraft

Beehive Honey.png: Infobox image for Beehive the block in Minecraft

Invicon Beehive.png: Inventory sprite for Beehive in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Beehive
Renewable

Yes

Stackable

Yes (64) without bees inside
No with bee(s) inside

Tool

Blast resistance

0.6

Hardness

0.6

Luminous

No

Transparent

No

Flammable

Yes (5)

Catches fire
from lava

Yes

Map color (JE)


 13 WOOD

A beehive is a craftable block that houses bees. They fill with honey as bees pollinate flowers and return to their homes and, when full, can either provide honeycomb when sheared or honey bottles when glass bottles are used on them.

Obtaining

Breaking

Beehives can be broken by any tool or by the player's fist, though they break faster with an axe. When mined, they always drop themselves.

If a beehive is broken with a tool not enchanted with Silk Touch, any bees inside and nearby emerge angry at the player. If a Silk Touch tool is used, any bees inside remain inside and any other bees nearby do not become angry.

If broken in Creative mode with bees inside, the beehive drops itself and bees inside remain inside.

Block BlockSprite beehive.png: Sprite image for beehive in MinecraftBeehive
Hardness 0.6
Tool
Breaking time (sec)[A]
Default 0.9
BlockSprite oak-planks.png: Sprite image for oak-planks in MinecraftWooden 0.45
BlockSprite cobblestone.png: Sprite image for cobblestone in MinecraftStone 0.25
ItemSprite copper-ingot.png: Sprite image for copper-ingot in MinecraftCopper
0.2
ItemSprite iron-ingot.png: Sprite image for iron-ingot in MinecraftIron 0.15
ItemSprite diamond.png: Sprite image for diamond in MinecraftDiamond 0.15
ItemSprite netherite-ingot.png: Sprite image for netherite-ingot in MinecraftNetherite 0.1
ItemSprite gold-ingot.png: Sprite image for gold-ingot in MinecraftGolden 0.1
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined
  1. These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g. Mining Fatigue), and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Crafting

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Any Planks +
Honeycomb
Invicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped PlanksInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped PlanksInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped PlanksInvicon Honeycomb.png: Inventory sprite for Honeycomb in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Honeycomb with description: HoneycombInvicon Honeycomb.png: Inventory sprite for Honeycomb in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Honeycomb with description: HoneycombInvicon Honeycomb.png: Inventory sprite for Honeycomb in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Honeycomb with description: HoneycombInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped PlanksInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped PlanksInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Oak PlanksInvicon Spruce Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Spruce Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Spruce Planks with description: Spruce PlanksInvicon Birch Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Birch Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Birch Planks with description: Birch PlanksInvicon Jungle Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Planks with description: Jungle PlanksInvicon Acacia Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Acacia Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Acacia Planks with description: Acacia PlanksInvicon Dark Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Dark Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Dark Oak Planks with description: Dark Oak PlanksInvicon Mangrove Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Mangrove Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Mangrove Planks with description: Mangrove PlanksInvicon Cherry Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Cherry Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cherry Planks with description: Cherry PlanksInvicon Pale Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Pale Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pale Oak Planks with description: Pale Oak PlanksInvicon Bamboo Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Bamboo Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bamboo Planks with description: Bamboo PlanksInvicon Crimson Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Crimson Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Crimson Planks with description: Crimson PlanksInvicon Warped Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Warped Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Warped Planks with description: Warped Planks
Invicon Beehive.png: Inventory sprite for Beehive in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Beehive

Usage

Bee housing

Dripping honey.

Bee nests and beehives can house up to 3 bees at a time. They can enter through any unobstructed side, top, or bottom, but can exit only from the front, and only if it's unobstructed by a solid block (including a non-full solid block in Bedrock Edition).

Bees fly into a nest or hive at night, during rain, and after loading up with pollen from a flower. They first look for one at the same coordinates as the last one they entered, but if there's no nest or hive there, or it already contains 3 bees when they arrive, they search the nearby area for another one.

Igniting a nest or hive allows any bees inside to escape, possibly catching fire as they flee.

Harvesting

The campfire is set into the ground and covered by a carpet to prevent the fire from damaging the bees.
Bees are protected from a campfire by placing a carpet over it in Java Edition.

Once full, bee nests and beehives provide two harvestable products: honey and honeycomb.

Each time a bee enters a nest or hive covered in pollen, it starts converting it to honey and honeycomb. After it's done, it waits for daylight with no rain (if necessary), then exits to go collect more pollen. If the bee hive or nest is in the Nether or in the End the bee exits as soon as it converts the pollen. When the bee exits, the hive increments its honey level by 1 and has a 1% chance to increment it by 2. Once it has the maximum honey level of 5, it changes its appearance to show honey oozing out and, if the block below it isn't a full solid block, starts dripping honey particles. (The dripping honey is decorative; it cannot be collected in a cauldron.) These changes signal that the hive or nest is ready for harvesting.

To harvest honey, the player uses a glass bottle on the nest or hive; the bottle then becomes a honey bottle. To harvest honeycomb, the player uses shears on the nest or hive, causing it to drop three honeycomb items. After harvesting, the hive or nest is reset to empty (honey level 0, with the default appearance).

Alternatively, honey or honeycomb can be harvested by powering a redstone dispenser containing either a glass bottle or shears. The dispenser must be placed beside and facing the hive or nest.

This is the maximum distance a beehive can be from a campfire while applying the calming effect (5 blocks).

Harvesting from a beehive or bee nest causes any bees inside it to become aggravated toward the player, unless there is a fire directly beneath it or a lit campfire within five blocks below, and the smoke is not obstructed. Smoke can pass through no more than one solid block, and only if that block is directly above the campfire. Placing a carpet above the campfire leaves room for the bees to hover beneath the nest and still avoid taking fire damage. In Java Edition, the smoke coming through the carpet also calms the bees. In Bedrock Edition, a carpet is treated as an obstruction that removes the calming effect of the campfire's smoke. Without a block covering the fire, the bees can still avoid fire damage if the campfire is placed 4–5 blocks below the nest.

Redstone component

Beehives and bee nests have comparator output with a strength equal to the honey level in the block. Once the beehive or bee nest is filled with honey it emits a signal strength of five.

Note blocks

Beehives and bee nests can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass" sound.


Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

BlockSprite oak-planks.png: Sprite image for oak-planks in Minecraft wood sound type
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.wood.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.wood.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.wood.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.wood.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.wood.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite bricks.png: Sprite image for bricks in Minecraft normal sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.27 [sound 1]0.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0
  1. MCPE-169612 — Many blocks make slightly different sounds to stone

Unique

Java Edition:

Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Honey dripsBlocksWhen a honey drip particle hits a blockblock.beehive.dripsubtitles.block.beehive.drip0.09-0.3varies [sound 1]8
​Bee enters hiveBlocksWhen a bee enters a beehiveblock.beehive.entersubtitles.block.beehive.enter1.00.7/0.814
​Bee leaves hiveBlocksWhen a bee exits a beehiveblock.beehive.exitsubtitles.block.beehive.exit1.00.9/1.0/1.114
​Shears scrapeBlocksWhen honeycombs are harvested from a beehiveblock.beehive.shearsubtitles.block.beehive.shear0.81.0/0.8/0.916
​Bees workBlocksRandomly while a bee is insideblock.beehive.worksubtitles.block.beehive.work0.61.012
​Bottle fillsBlocksWhen a bottle is filled with honeyitem.bottle.fillsubtitles.item.bottle.fill1.01.016
  1. Can be 0.7 or 0.9 for each sound

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksWhen a honey drip particle hits a blockblock.beehive.drip0.30.7-0.9
BlocksWhen a bee enters a beehiveblock.beehive.enter0.750.7-0.8
BlocksWhen a bee exits a beehiveblock.beehive.exit0.750.9-1.1
BlocksWhen honeycombs are collected from a beehiveblock.beehive.shear0.80.8-1.0
BlocksRandomly while a bee is insideblock.beehive.work0.61.0
BlocksWhen a bottle is filled with honey[sound 1]bucket.fill_water1.01.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsTranslation key
BlockSprite beehive.png: Sprite image for beehive in Minecraft BeehivebeehiveBlock & Itembeehivesblock.minecraft.beehive
NameIdentifier
BlockSprite beehives.png: Sprite image for beehives in Minecraft Block entitybeehive

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite beehive.png: Sprite image for beehive in Minecraft Beehivebeehive474Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.beehive.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Available with /give command.
  3. The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.
NameSavegame ID
BlockSprite beehives.png: Sprite image for beehives in Minecraft Block entityBeehive

Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
facingnortheast
north
south
west
The opposite from the direction the player faces while placing the block.
honey_level00
1
2
3
4
5
Every pollinated bee that leaves the hive after working increases the honey level by one. When at level 5, honey can be bottled or honeycombs can be harvested.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
directionNot Supported00
1
2
3
UnsupportedThe direction the block faces.
  • 0: south
  • 1: west
  • 2: north
  • 3: east
honey_levelNot Supported00
1
2
3
4
5
UnsupportedEvery pollinated bee that leaves the hive after working increases the honey level by one. When at level 5, honey can be bottled or honeycombs can be harvested.


Block data

A beehive has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

Java Edition:

  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Block entity data
    • Tags common to all block entities see Template:Nbt inherit/blockentity/template
    • [NBT List / JSON Array] bees: Entities currently in the hive.
      • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] An entity in the hive.
        • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] entity_data: The NBT data of the entity in the hive.
        • [Int] min_ticks_in_hive: The minimum amount of time in ticks for this entity to stay in the hive.
        • [Int] ticks_in_hive: The amount of ticks the entity has stayed in the hive.
    • [Int Array] flower_pos: Stores the flower block location, as 3 integers, so other bees can go to it.

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Item data

Java Edition:

  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] components: the item's components tag.
    • [NBT List / JSON Array] minecraft:bees: The entities currently in the beehive or bee nest.
      • [NBT Compound / JSON Object]: A single entity.
        • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] entity_data: The NBT data of the entity in the hive.
        • [Int] min_ticks_in_hive: The minimum amount of time in ticks for this entity to stay in the hive.
        • [Int] ticks_in_hive: The amount of ticks the entity has stayed in the hive.

Bedrock Edition:

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
Bee our guestUse a Campfire to collect Honey from a using a Bottle without aggravating the bees.15Bronze

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
Bee Our GuestUse a Campfire to collect Honey from a Beehive using a Glass Bottle without aggravating the BeesUse a glass bottle on a or bee nest while not angering the bees inside.

History

Java Edition
1.1519w34a Added bee hives.
19w35aBee hives are now flammable.
19w36a The top and bottom texture for filled bee hives are now missing.[1]
19w37a The top and bottom texture for filled bee hives are now fixed.
19w41a"Bee hive" has been renamed to "Beehive".
19w46aBees now exit hives only from the front.
Hives no longer drop in Creative mode, unless they contain bees.
1.1620w06aCrimson planks and warped planks can now be used to craft beehives.
1.1922w11aMangrove planks can now be used to craft beehives.
1.19.3
Experiment
Update 1.20
22w42aBamboo planks can now be used to craft beehives.
1.19.4
Experiment
Update 1.20
23w07aCherry planks can now be used to craft beehives.
1.21.224w35aNow show information about their level of honey and number of bees.
Now use their "full" texture when held or in the inventory, and they are at max level of honey.
Bedrock Edition
1.14.0beta 1.14.0.1 Added beehives.
1.16.100beta 1.16.100.54Now appear yellow on maps.
1.18.30beta 1.18.20.27Breaking a beehive with Silk Touch no longer angers bees.
1.20.30Preview 1.20.20.21Decreased the blast resistance of beehives from 5.4 to 0.6.
1.21.40Preview 1.21.40.20Beehives can no longer be used as fuel in a furnace.

Block Data History

Java Edition
1.20.524w06aFlowerPos in beehives has been renamed to flower_pos.

Issues

Issues relating to "Beehive" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

See also

Gallery

Renders

Beehive

Screenshots

In other media

References

  1. MC-160456 — resolved as "Fixed".

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