The vibration signal of the honeybee is a modulatory communication signal that causes increased activity in recipients, which helps to organize information flow and labor among workers. Newly founded colonies may have increased labor demands compared to established colonies, which could effect how the vibration signal is used to influence recipient behavior. Bees that perform vibration signals tend to be older workers. They select recipients from an array of potential receivers and tend to focus signaling activity on less active bees. We found that vibrators in newly founded and established colonies did not differ in age. However, those in newly founded colonies produced signals at a greater rate and exhibited an increased tendency to select less active bees as recipients compared to those in established colonies. This could help to increase labor in colonies that must maintain a finer balance between comb construction, brood rearing and food storage than occurs in established colonies that are buffered by larger amounts of completed comb and food stores.