The natural world is filled with a symphony of buzzing sounds, from the gentle hum of a honeybee to the intense drone of a cicada. These auditory signals, often produced by insects, are a common experience during warmer months. Understanding which insects create these distinctive noises reveals a diversity of biological mechanisms and behaviors.
The Purpose and Mechanics of Buzzing
Insects produce buzzing sounds primarily through the rapid vibration of their wings. This movement displaces air, creating sound waves perceived as a buzz. For instance, house flies can beat their wings up to 200 times per second, and bees can reach 230 beats per second, generating their characteristic sounds.
Beyond flight, buzzing serves several functions for insects. Many species use these sounds for communication, such as attracting mates or signaling danger. Male mosquitoes change their wingbeat sound to find a mate, while female mosquitoes’ wingbeat frequency attracts males. Bees use buzzing to communicate information about food sources and to defend their hives. Some insects, like bumblebees, utilize buzzing for thermoregulation by vibrating flight muscles to generate heat, and for “buzz pollination” (sonication) to release pollen from flowers.
Prominent Buzzing Insects
Among the many insects that buzz, several are known for their loud and distinct sounds. Cicadas are perhaps the most famous for their incredibly loud calls, which can be heard from over a mile away. Male cicadas produce these sounds using specialized ribbed membranes called tymbals, located on their abdomens. When muscles contract, these tymbals buckle rapidly, creating a clicking sound that, when repeated quickly, forms a continuous buzz. This sound, often described as a rhythmic, high-pitched whine or an electric saw, serves as a mating call. A collective chorus can reach volumes exceeding 90 decibels. They are most active during the day in the hottest summer months, heard in trees in forests and urban areas.
Bees, including honey bees and bumblebees, produce a well-known humming or buzzing sound. This noise results from their wings beating at high speeds, causing vibrations in the air. Honey bees typically beat their wings between 120-160 times per second, which can increase to 600 beats per second. Bumblebees often have a deeper, more resonant buzz due to their larger size and slower wingbeat frequency. Bees’ buzzing can vary in intensity depending on their activity, such as foraging or defending their hive.
Wasps, including hornets and yellow jackets, also produce buzzing sounds with their rapid wing movements. Their buzz is often described as sharper and more erratic compared to the gentle hum of bees. Yellow jackets, a type of social wasp, are frequently mistaken for bees due to their similar appearance and buzzing sound. Their buzz tends to sound more aggressive, aligning with their defensive behavior, particularly when their nests are disturbed. Yellow jackets can build nests in trees, shrubs, or underground, and their presence may be detected by a rustling or purring sound within walls if they nest indoors.
Large flies, such as horse flies and blow flies, contribute to the loud buzzing chorus. The buzzing sound of a fly is a direct result of its wings flapping at an extremely high speed. Larger flies generally produce a louder, lower-pitched buzz because their larger wings displace more air, even if their wingbeat rate is slower than smaller flies. Blow flies, which can have metallic colors like black, blue, or green, are known for their loud buzzing. This buzzing can seem even louder in quiet environments or when a fly is agitated or seeking a mate.
Differentiating Buzzing Sounds
Distinguishing between the buzzing sounds of different insects involves paying attention to various characteristics of the sound and the surrounding environment. The pitch of the buzz is a key indicator; smaller insects with faster wingbeats, like mosquitoes, tend to produce higher-pitched whines, while larger insects like bumblebees or larger flies generally have a lower-pitched, deeper hum. The rhythm and duration of the buzz also provide clues. Cicadas, for instance, are known for their distinct rhythmic, pulsating buzz that often rises and falls in volume, sometimes described as sounding like an electric string trimmer or a power saw.
Contextual factors are important for identification. The time of day the sound is heard can narrow down possibilities; cicadas typically buzz during the day, especially in the warmest hours of summer, while other insects might be more active at dusk or night. The location of the sound offers further insight: a loud drone from high in the trees often points to cicadas, whereas a buzzing sound near flowers suggests bees. Visual observations, such as the insect’s size, appearance, and behavior, can confirm an identification. For example, the presence of a fuzzy, honey-brown insect indicates a bee, while a smoother, bright yellow and black striped insect with a narrow waist is more likely a yellow jacket.