Bugging Insects

Instead of insects bugging you, why don’t you “bug” an insect? Listen to insects using a simple chamber that amplifies the sounds they make.

Materials:

Paper or foam cup

waxed paper

rubber band

What To Do:  Use a the cup to capture the winged insect to which you want to listen.  Stretch a piece of waxed paper over the top of the cup and secure the paper in place with the rubber band.  The waxed paper should be pulled tight across the cup.  Hold the cup next to your ear and listen to the beat of the insect’s wings.  Can you hum along to the beat?  When you have finished listening to the insect, carefully release it.  Do different insects sound different?  In what ways to they sound different?  Can you imitate the sounds you hear?

What’s Going On?  The insect amplifier increases the volume of the sound of an insect’s wings beating.  The beating wings cause the air in the amplifier chamber to vibrate; in turn, the air moves the waxed paper covering the cup.  An insect which works especially well in the chamber – and is easy to catch – is the mosquito.  A mosquito’s wings flap 300 times/sec.  A honeybee’s wings flap about 250 times/sec and a fly’s flap 190 times/sec.