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Misconceptions/Misinformation
#3: Many insects, especially bees, produce sound through their
rear end (anus).
Examples containing misinformation:
- The children's book Bzzzzz Said the Bee, designed for ages 3-6,
contains drawings of one of the main characters, a bumble bee, with the writing
"Buzzzzz..." originating from the tip of the insect's abdomen. From:
Bzzzzz Said the Bee by Wendy Cheyette Lewison. New York: Scholastic,
Inc. 1992. ISBN 0-590-41185-X
Explanation:
The buzzing sound that honey bees make comes from the rapid
vibration of their wings while flying. Mosquitos, flies, wasps, some beetles,
and other flying insects share this attribute. In fact, the hummingbird emits
an audible and well-known sound during flight, which is also caused by rapid
wing beating
examples of other insects that produce sounds:
- Tap beetles hit their abdomens on hard ground surfaces to
attract mates.
- Cicadas make loud summertime buzzing sounds via a vibrating-membrane
(tymbal organ).
- Madagascan hissing cockroaches push air through tiny openings
called spiracles on the sides of their abdomen.
Question:
Think about how you make a "hissing sound". What parts of your body are involved and exactly
what makes the hissing sound?
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