Reactions of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera L., to Artificial Sounds and Vibrations of Known Frequencies1

Abstract

Stopping-reactions induced in honey bees by pure tones were observed among workers, drones, and queens. The reactions were most complete for sound frequencies between 500 and 1,000 c.p.s., and no reaction was observed below 100 or above 6,000 c.p.s. Sound levels above 108 decibels were necessary to elicit the reaction. Tests with surfaces vibrated either by intense sound or directly by the voice coil of a loud-speaker indicated that the stopping-reaction was a result of substrate vibration. The threshold magnitude of vibration for the tarsi was estimated as being about 0.05 micron. Tests indicated that the antennae were not involved in receiving the stimuli in the stopping-reaction, but that all three pairs of legs were involved and to a similar extent.