The Influence of Vibratory Dances by Worker Honeybees on the Activity of Virgin Queens

Abstract

The function of the vibratory dance of honeybees was investigated through its effects on the activities of virgin queens. It is improbable that this dance promotes flight by queens and workers, as has been suggested, because virgins were vibrated by workers as often after returning from an orientation or mating flight as before leaving on a flight. On the other hand, virgins were vibrated twice as often when they were active on the combs as when they were inactive, and following vibration they became (or remained) inactive twice as often as they became (or remained) active. These results support the hypothesis that vibratory dances have an inhibitory effect on the activity of other members of the colony.