> I forward to the list the following response from William
> F. Towne who has researched the roll of sound in honeybee
> communication.
>
> Robert Hawkes
 
Hi all,
 
I hesitate a little to bring this up because of both the recent
amount of (very interesting!) traffic and because I personaly
don't have the knowledge.  So, if this is rubbish, please say
so, I won't be offended. However, if it's true I shall also
be fascinated.
 
I first heard about hearing in bees in a recent lecture on bees
and their senses. I am sceptical that bees are 'deaf', because
we know they can feel vibrations and sound is just a vibration --
the only real question is the frequency ranges that apply.
 
Well, the lecturer stated that bees not only hear, but also
that they make 'squeeks' during their waggle dance and that
these squeeks, like the number of waggles, are closely related
to the distance between colony and crop. If I remember correctly
it was an inverse like the number of waggles.
 
Does anyone out there have any knowledge of this area and, if
so, just how does it fit into the waggle-dance conundrum? (is
that a fair word?)
 
Regards, Gordon.
--
Gordon Scott   [log in to unmask]   Hampshire, England.
               [log in to unmask]
               Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor.
The Basingstoke Beekeeper (newsletter) [log in to unmask]