Differentiation of work signals. Signals, predicting an increase of honey collection.

(Analysis of the result of all day long control of one small family transported to a new place of honey collection, This statement requires additional multiple experimental confirmation)

Let's consider the range of working state signals at a slightly new angle of view. In our discussions, we will use the results, obtained by American scientists - biologists, during the research of vibration signals of bees, associated with honey collection. Diagrams from these works we will give as an example.

In the diagnosis of our device, there are two ranges, "responsible" for the quality of the work of the family. The range 280-330Hz and the range 330-380Hz. The division is somewhat arbitrary, but in principle, which carries a certain meaning.

The fact is, that each of these ranges contains a signal that answers the question about the strength of the family's work on honey collection.

The first range contains a signal of 265 + - Hz. or "Waggle dance" signal. This signal is issued in particular by foragers, arriving with honey, and performing their dance. In this dance, as it is well know, they tell where they managed to find a lot of nectar. During the dance, foragers produce a vibrational and acoustic signal, consisting of a series of pulses with a frequency of approximately 265 Hz. Using this dance they invite new bees to participate in flights for nectar.

Second signal is situated in the range of 350 ± Hz. This is a vibration signal of the response of recruits to foragers, that they understand them and are ready to join the flights. This signal, recruit emits, pressing the body to the comb. Therefore, the air component of the signal is not very loud, and the signal is heard worse than the signals of foragers. This is normal, since it is intended for foragers, and should not be heard far away.

So, the growth of the signal in the range of 280-330Hz, is associated with arrival of foragers and their dances, regulating the number of future foragers. When honey harvest is good, the number of foragers and their dances is growing.

The signal in the range of 330-380 Hz, is associated with increment of responses of recruits to the calls of foragers. The growth of the signal means, that soon, the "army" of foragers will become bigger, and the honey collection will increase, due to new recruits, who will become foragers. As a rule, signal growth in this range is not long, and after growth the signal fades, as the system balances the number of necessary foragers and new foragers, apparently, are not required. But after the appearance of this signal, begins a gradual increase of the values of signals in the range of 280-330 Hz., which indicates that the honey collection begin to grow. This is exactly what the first foragers wanted to achieve!

The results were received during control of a small family, transported to a new, unfamiliar place, and opened at the beginning of the day. The time of experiment - beginning of July. The weather is good. Plants produce nectar very good. The picture of the change in working activity looks like this:

Thus, monitoring of the range of 330-380Hz. makes it possible to predict increment of flying activity and, as a result, increment of honey collection during this day.

Source: http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/142036_en.html?isPermaLink=true&WT.mc_i...