The familiar sound of buzzing insects signals summer. This hum emanates from a diverse array of insects, each contributing its unique acoustic signature. Understanding the source and purpose of these sounds reveals insect biology and communication.
The Summer’s Loudest Performers
Cicadas are often the primary source of summer’s loudest buzzing sounds. These insects are renowned for their distinctive, often deafening calls. Male cicadas produce these loud sounds primarily to attract mates, creating a continuous, almost electric buzz that fills the air during summer days. Their calls can reach volumes of up to 100 decibels or more, comparable to a lawnmower or a rock concert.
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on sap from tree roots for years. This underground phase can last from 2 to 17 years, with periodical cicadas emerging in synchronized, massive numbers after 13 or 17 years. Once the soil temperature reaches approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, nymphs emerge, molt into winged adults, and live for a few weeks to months to reproduce.
Other Common Summer Buzzers
Beyond the prominent cicada, several other insects contribute to the summer’s buzzing chorus. Bees, for instance, are a universally recognized source of buzzing, which is largely a byproduct of their rapid wing beats. Their buzzing is not only a sound of flight but also serves various purposes, including pollination and communication within their colonies.
Mosquitoes also produce a high-pitched buzzing or whining sound. This sound is generated by the extremely fast flapping of their wings, which can beat up to 1,000 times per second. While both male and female mosquitoes buzz, the females typically produce a higher-pitched sound. Various flies also contribute to the general buzzing, primarily from their rapid wing movement during flight.
The Science of the Buzz: How Insects Create Sound
Insects generate buzzing sounds through several biological mechanisms. The most common method involves the rapid vibration of their wings, creating disturbances in the air we perceive as sound. The speed at which wings beat directly influences the pitch of the buzz; smaller insects with faster wing beats, like mosquitoes, tend to produce higher-pitched sounds, while larger insects with slower wing beats produce lower pitches.
Cicadas, however, employ a specialized mechanism to produce their exceptionally loud calls. Male cicadas possess unique organs called tymbals, on their abdomens. These tymbals are ribbed membranes that buckle inward and outward at high speeds due to muscle contractions, producing a series of rapid clicks. The cicada’s hollow abdominal cavity amplifies these clicks, acting as a resonant chamber, turning individual clicks into the continuous, loud buzzing sound.
Why the Buzz? Understanding Insect Communication
Insect buzzing serves various functions. A primary purpose for many species, particularly cicadas, is mate attraction. Male cicadas produce species-specific songs to attract females for reproduction. This acoustic signature helps females identify suitable mates.
Buzzing can also serve as a form of communication for other purposes, such as territorial defense or warning signals to predators. For social insects like bees, buzzing plays a role in conveying information, such as the location or quality of food sources, through variations in buzz frequency and intensity. Some bees also utilize buzz pollination to release pollen from certain flowers that only release it when vibrated at a particular frequency.