Persistent buzzing sounds are a common part of outdoor experiences, particularly during warmer months. These sounds originate from various insects, creating an audible presence in diverse environments. Insect buzzing is not random; it’s produced through specific physical actions and serves various purposes. This article explores which insects are responsible, how they generate their characteristic buzz, and the reasons behind their acoustic output.
Common Loud Buzzing Insects
Cicadas are among the most recognized and loudest insects, producing a distinctive sound that can reach over 100 decibels, comparable to a lawnmower or chainsaw. Male cicadas create this rhythmic, high-pitched whine, often described as a thrumming or electric noise, primarily to attract females. Their calls are prominent on hot days from mid-July through early fall. Different cicada species have unique songs; for instance, the Dog-day Cicada sounds like a buzzing electric saw, while some periodical cicadas can sound like an electric string trimmer or a whistling tea kettle.
Bees and wasps are also well-known for their buzzing during flight. The hum of bees, like honeybees and bumblebees, varies in pitch and intensity depending on their activity and size. Larger bumblebees produce a lower-pitched, more resonant buzz compared to smaller honeybees. A bee’s flight sound can reach around 65 decibels, becoming particularly noticeable when agitated.
Flies, including house flies and mosquitoes, contribute to ambient buzzing. A house fly’s buzzing is a constant hum produced by its wings beating about 200 times per second. Mosquitoes produce a higher-pitched whine due to their smaller wings beating more rapidly. The size of the fly often correlates with the loudness of its buzz; larger flies generally create a more audible sound.
How Insects Make Buzzing Sounds
Insects primarily generate buzzing sounds through rapid wing vibrations. As wings beat at high speeds, they displace air, creating sound waves that humans perceive as a buzz. The frequency of these wing beats, ranging from 100 Hz for large beetles to over 500 Hz for mosquitoes, determines the sound’s pitch. For example, a bee’s wings can flap approximately 200 times per second, generating its characteristic hum.
Some insects employ specialized structures beyond simple wing flapping. Cicadas, for example, produce loud sounds using tymbals, ribbed membranes on their abdomens. Muscles rapidly contract, causing these tymbals to buckle inward and outward, creating rapid clicks that combine into a continuous buzzing sound. This sound is amplified by the cicada’s hollow abdominal cavity. Other methods include stridulation, where insects rub two body parts together, though this often results in chirping or clicking rather than a continuous buzz.
The Purpose of the Buzz
Insect buzzing serves multiple functions, including communication, navigation, and as a byproduct of flight. While flight sound is often an unavoidable consequence of rapid wing movement, many species have adapted this incidental noise for specific purposes. The frequency and intensity of buzzing can convey different messages within insect communities.
Communication is a primary function of insect buzzing. Male cicadas produce loud calls to attract mates, with volume helping signals travel over long distances and through environmental noise. Bees use varied buzzing patterns to communicate information within their hive, such as food source locations or predator warnings, and changes in a bee’s buzz can also signal distress. Flies adjust their buzzing frequency for courtship, with males altering flight sounds to attract females, or to establish territory and signal alarm. Additionally, some bees use a specific buzz, known as sonication or buzz pollination, to release pollen from certain flowers by vibrating their flight muscles.