queen stroking

[FordGuy]

I observed a NWC queen being "stroked" with the front forelegs of many italian hybrid workers. She had begun laying very well. Nice pattern. She was ignoring me and was hustling her way across the comb, checking things out. Contrast this "stroking" behavior to the cold reception a virgin queen gets - I have not seen virgins stroked, except in the backseat of a 1970 fastback mustang. Compare this to the leg stroking of solitary locusts which triggers physiological changes in appearance, as well as behavioral changes including swarming and agressiveness. anyone have any opinions on the stroking of queens...or the stroking of virgins?

[peggjam]

"I have not seen virgins stroked, except in the backseat of a 1970 fastback mustang."

Aha, the voice of experieance, tongue.gif . It's my understanding that virgins arn't given any attention until they start mating flights.

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't sya that they are given ANY attention, but they don't seem to have a real court until after.

[FordGuy]

what does the stroking mean?
what does it mean if a mature layer is suddenly observed not being stroked? (the obvious?)
is stroking something that we should be looking for in a healthy queen in addition to pattern, quality of brood, etc?

[peggjam]

Actually I think it would be more to the point to call it grooming, rather than stroking. It is just the way the workers clean and attend to their queen. This behavior is noted in most all euro(sp) social insects.