Wiktor Wise
Many insects make distinct sounds, but few are as loud and jarring as the noise made by cicadas. The noise of cicadas has been described as sounding like electricity, with some people mistaking the noise for power lines or electrical wires. The loud buzzing or droning sound is produced by male cicadas and can be heard during the day and night, with noise levels ranging from 90-100 decibels. This noise is produced by the male cicadas' thin, ridged drum-like structure called a tymbal, which is a part of their exoskeleton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Cicadas |
| Scientific Name | Neotibicen canicularis |
| Noise Description | Very loud buzzing or droning, whining of electrical wires rising and falling, high voltage sound |
| Noise Level | 90-100 decibels |
| Noise Sources | Male cicadas, female cicadas |
| Noise Purpose | Congregate, attract mates, defend territory, courtship |
| Periodicity | Annual, 13-year, 17-year |
| Location | Midwestern and Southeastern states, Colorado, Japan, Australia, Toronto |
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What You'll Learn
Cicadas can sound like electricity
Cicadas are well-known for the loud, distinctive noises they produce. The sound of cicadas has been likened to the "whining of electrical wires rising and falling", which can be as loud as a lawnmower, motorcycle, or tractor. This noise is caused by the male cicadas' thin, ridged drum-like structure called a tymbal, which is a part of their exoskeleton made of resilin. When sound waves from the tymbal enter the hollow area of the male cicadas' abdomens, they bounce around, creating a loud sound.
The noise made by cicadas can be so loud that when Brood X emerged in 2021, journalists and citizens reported noise levels ranging from 90-100 decibels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to noise at 100 decibels is considered safe for only 15 minutes. However, despite their high volume, the noise from cicadas is unlikely to cause hearing loss due to the influence of factors such as exposure period, duration, and distance.
The loud calls of the cicadas serve multiple purposes, including establishing territory and attracting females for mating. The 13-year and 17-year brood cicadas tend to be the loudest due to the large number of individuals that emerge simultaneously. These periodical cicadas differ from annual cicadas, which appear every year in many states.
The distinctive sound of cicadas has been described as a buzzing or droning noise that lasts all day and into the night. In some cases, people have mistaken the sound of cicadas for electrical issues or power lines, only to later realize it was the insects creating the high-voltage-like sound.
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Click beetles make a clicking sound
While there are no bugs that literally sound like electricity, some insects do produce sounds that can be described as similar to electricity. Cicadas, for example, are known to make loud, high-pitched noises that have been likened to the "whining of electrical wires rising and falling".
Click beetles, on the other hand, are named for the distinctive clicking sound they produce. This sound is created by a hinge mechanism in their thorax, which they use to bend and unbend their bodies to jump. When a click beetle senses danger, it will often lie on its back, pretending to be dead. If someone approaches, the beetle will produce a clicking sound as it jumps up and then scampers away. This behaviour can also be seen as a response to being held or restrained.
Click beetles are one of the most diverse beetle families, with over 800 species recorded in India alone. They can be found all around the globe, and their ability to produce a clicking sound during an acrobatic jump is a common trait among the species. The hinge mechanism in their thorax has two main components: a peg with a soft cuticle and a lip. When the beetle wants to jump, the peg comes out of its cavity and latches onto the lip, causing the soft cuticle to deform and store energy. When the deformation is complete, the latch is released, creating the clicking sound and propelling the beetle into the air.
In addition to their clicking sound, click beetles are also known for the light they emit. In the 16th century, islanders used these beetles as "torchlights", and the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt reported that a perforated gourd with a dozen click beetles inside provided comfortable reading light. The light emitted by these beetles was once even thought to have fooled English explorer Sir Thomas Cavendish, who allegedly mistook the light for Spanish soldiers and hesitated to land ashore during his voyage to the West Indies in 1634.
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Putnam's cicada has a distinctive sound
While it is unclear what kind of bug exactly sounds like electricity, the cicada is a likely candidate. The cicada is a noisy insect that can make sounds resembling the "whining of electrical wires rising and falling". The loud buzzing or droning noise produced by cicadas can last all day and into the night, and noise levels can reach up to 90-100 decibels.
Putnam's cicada (Platypedia putnami) is a unique species of cicada that lacks the organ called a tymbal, which most other cicadas use to make their loud calls. Instead, Putnam's cicada is a wing-tapping cicada, producing soft rustling songs by using its wings. This unusual sound helps wing-tapping cicadas stand out as they search for a mate. Putnam's cicada is one of the most common species in Colorado, often found in shrublands of Gambel oak or mountain mahogany in foothills areas. The life cycle of this species is thought to take three to five years, with the entire immature stage occurring underground. Nymphs feed on plant roots and, once full-grown, they emerge from the soil and become adults. After mating, the adult females lay their eggs in slits in the twigs of various host plants.
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Male cicadas synchronise their calls
The buzzing or droning sound you hear could be coming from cicadas, a diverse family of insects found all over the world. Cicadas are known for the loud noises they make, which can be as loud as a lawnmower, motorcycle, or tractor. The male cicadas are responsible for these loud sounds as they synchronise their calls and produce congregational songs to establish territory and attract females. The hotter the day, the louder the male cicadas sing.
Male cicadas make several types of sounds, including a mating call, a distress call, and an encounter call (or celebration call) made after the female agrees to mate. They also have a call to signal that they want to be alone. The male cicadas produce these loud airborne acoustic signals or "songs" using a pair of tymbals—a thin, ridged drum-like structure in their exoskeletons made of resilin. The male abdomens are almost completely hollow, so when sound waves from the tymbals enter this space, they bounce around and amplify the sound.
Female cicadas also make sounds to attract males, but they use their wings to create a clicking sound. This is known as a "wing-flick" signal, and the timing of this signal in relation to the male call is species-specific. The male cicadas can perceive both the visual and acoustic components of the female's wing-flick. In response to imitations of female wing-flicks, a chorusing male will increase his number of calls relative to movement distance, improving his chances of receiving responses from nearby females.
If a male receives multiple responses, he will begin CI courtship and engage in a signaling duet with the wing-flicking female to locate her. Between calls, the duetting male may walk towards the female and begin CII calling. The CII call is produced shortly before the male attempts to mount the female. Once the male contacts the female or begins preparing to mount, he starts CIII calling, which consists of a continuous series of short, staccato buzzes about 4-6 per second. The male continues this call until he mounts and copulates.
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Cicadas are loudest in large numbers
Cicadas are considered the loudest insects in the world, with noise levels ranging from 90-100 decibels. Their song has been described as a loud buzzing or droning that lasts all day and night, resembling the whining of electrical wires rising and falling. The loudest groups of cicadas are the periodical ones that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and their volume is likely due to the sheer number of insects that appear at once.
The male cicadas are responsible for the majority of the noise, as they possess a unique organ called a tymbal, which is a thin, ridged, drum-like structure made of resilin. This organ allows them to produce incredibly loud calls, with each male cicada having a pair of tymbal membranes on the back and side surface of the first abdominal segment. When the tymbal muscle attached to the membrane contracts, it causes the membrane to bend and produces a clicking sound.
The male cicadas synchronize their calls to produce congregational songs, which serve to establish territory and attract females. The songs of the cicadas are also influenced by weather conditions, as they prefer sunlight and warmth, but too much heat or coolness will cause them to quiet down. Different species of cicadas also have distinct sounds and prefer different times of the day to sing.
The loud volume of cicadas may also serve as a deterrent to predators. While the noise of cicadas can be annoying or irritating to some people, others find it soothing or exciting. It is recommended to wear earplugs when in close proximity to a chorus of male cicadas to protect your hearing.
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Frequently asked questions
Cicadas are known to make a buzzing or droning sound that lasts all day and night. Some people have described the sound as similar to electricity or power lines.
Cicadas are insects that are famous for the amount of noise they make. They are found in many parts of the world, including North America, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia.
Male cicadas synchronize their calls to produce congregational songs, which establish territory and attract females.
Cicadas can be very loud, with noise levels ranging from 90-100 decibels. However, the noise is unlikely to cause hearing loss.
If the sound is coming from inside a wall and responds to your movement, it is likely an insect like a cicada or a cricket. If the sound is constant and does not respond to movement, it could be an electrical issue.
