John Mitchell thinks that thumping the hive in different ways might produce
different responses.  No.  When something goes goes bump in the night, you
are startled and the degree of startlement depends on your state more than
the nature of the bump.  If you have been out on the town, you are more
drowsy and do not react so quickly. It is the same with the bees.

If conditions are normal they will be quick to defend the hive- an immediate
hiss with a sharp start.  If they are planning to leave, they are tanked up
with honey, in a don't care mood with slower reactions.  The hiss is not so
loud, slower on the rise and more drawn out.  To hear the hiss properly you
need a filter that blocks the frequencies below 3,000 Hz.

The warble just tells you that the queen's egg laying is reduced.  The hiss
tells you whether the cause is a planned swarm or something else.  If you
are building a mock apidictor, you need both.

Rex Boys