Mostly to Clint Darling--drumming the bees may have several effects on the
insects. Perhaps this practice came from driving the bees out of old
"gums" usually up into standard hives. Drumming also disorganizes them
rather like smoke and they are less defensive. This may even lead to
the practice of banging on pots, pans or other metal objects which
reportedly makes a swarm decide to land..I'm sure there are a good
many reports on this practice in the older bee literature..the next
question becomes--will this work on the African honey bee?