Factors influencing the selection of recipients by workers performing vibration signals in colonies of the honeybee,Apis mellifera

The vibration signal of the honeybee functions as ‘modulatory communication’ because it elicits a general increase in activity that may help integrate the behaviour of workers that perform different, interrelated task sets. Workers that produce vibration signals contact numerous other bees, some of which receive the signal while others are ‘bypassed’ (antennated but not vibrated). Vibrating bees may therefore select among potential recipients. We monitored vibration signal behaviour in six observation colonies to investigate the possible selection of recipients by vibrating bees and the factors that might influence these choices. Vibrating bees roamed throughout the nest and bypassed more than half of all workers contacted. Vibration signals were not directed towards specific worker age groups. There were no differences in the mean age of vibrated versus bypassed workers or the proportion of recipients that were of preforaging versus foraging age. The likelihood of receiving vibration signals was influenced by recipient activity level. Significantly more workers were vibrated if they were inactive versus active when contacted by a signalling bee. Signal production was not consistently influenced by relatedness. Vibrating bees from only a single patriline in one of our study colonies were more likely to perform signals on supersisters than on half-sisters. In all other colonies no kin preferences were observed during signal performance. Thus, vibrating bees may choose among potential recipients and direct their signals towards inactive workers of all ages and levels of relatedness. This, in combination with their movement throughout the colony, could help to activate simultaneously multiple worker groups that perform interdependent tasks, but which may be spatially segregated in the nest.