The role of the vibration signal during queen competition in colonies of the honeybee, Apis mellifera

Abstract

Temporary polygyny (the presence of multiple queens) occurs in honeybee colonies when virgin queens (VQs) are reared for reproductive swarming or queen replacement. During these events, workers perform vibration signals on queen cells and emerged queens, and these signals may influence which VQ becomes the new laying queen of a colony. We examined the role of vibration signals during queen competition in two African and six European honeybee colonies. There was pronounced variability in vibration activity between colonies and among queens reared within the same colony. Despite this variation, all colonies showed similar trends in the relationships between the vibration signal and queen replacement. Vibration signals performed on queen cells were not associated with emergence success. Likewise, the signal was not associated with queen emergence order. Early emerging and late-emerging queens were vibrated at similar rates, and there was no clear relationship between emergence order and VQ survival. However, the signals performed on VQs after they emerged were associated with their behaviour and success during the queen elimination period. Emerged VQs that were vibrated at higher rates survived longer, performed more bouts of piping (a characteristic sound produced by queens), eliminated more rivals and were more likely to become the new queens of the colonies. The vibration signal may therefore allow workers a degree of control over the behaviour of emerged VQs, and may influence the outcome of queen competition in honeybees. Differences in vibration activity within and among colonies may reflect differences in the extent to which workers and queens conflict over the timing and outcome of polygyny reduction.