fbpx

What’s That Sound? Why Insects Make The Noises They Make

killingsworth environmental insects

Did you know insects make those strange noises…on purpose?!

Have you ever stepped outside late in the evening (or early in the morning) expecting to hear peace and quiet, but instead, found yourself overwhelmed by the ruckus and chatter of nearby insects? Sure, some of their sounds can be relaxing, even enjoyable to some extent, but others are just plain obnoxious! Try it tonight. Sit outside and just listen. You might find yourself curious as to where the sounds are coming from and why that bug makes the noises it makes. Well let us tell you, so instead of saying “what’s that sound?” you’ll be able to identify it.

Cicada

By far one of the most recognizable sounds of summer, a group of cicada bugs can be heard from more than a mile away! Insect: Cicada Sound: A high-pitched rattle Why?: The rattling noise is made by the male cicada bugs as a mating call. The sound is the result of the cicada bug vibrating a part of their body called the tymbal.

Mosquito

Hearing a mosquito close-by almost always means you’re about to become a snack. Did you know mosquitoes can travel up to 14 miles for a meal? Insect: Mosquito Sound: A subtle whine Why?: A mosquito’s wings beat 300 to 600 times per second which produces the whining sound you hear right before you get bitten (or after). You’ve certainly heard a mosquito whine, but have you heard about our mosquito control program? Our mosquito control treatments will keep the pesky bugs out of your yard and away from your family all summer.

Cricket

You can get a rough estimate of the outside temperature by counting the number of cricket chirps you hear in 15 seconds and then adding 37–who knew?! Insect: Cricket Sound: A low chirp separated by several seconds of silence Why?: Instead of using their wings to fly, males use their wings to create a chirping sound that attracts a mate. Cricket chirps sound pleasant to the human ear because of their pure and low frequency.

House fly

There aren’t many things more irritating than a house fly zipping around your home, garbage, food, or pets–wouldn’t you agree? Insect: House fly Sound: Humming Why?: House flies beat their wings about 200 times a second which allows them to fly up to 4 ½ miles per hour. When their wings flap, they produce a humming sound almost like a mini airplane propeller!

Longhorned beetle

One of the noisiest critters, the longhorned beetle is infamous for its creepy, almost cringe-worthy sound and their big appetite for hardwood trees. Insect: Longhorned beetle Sound: Static-like squeaking (often compared to the sound you get from rubbing two pieces of styrofoam together) Why?: The long horned beetle unique noise results from the scraping of the ridges on their head against their bodies.

Bumblebee

Most people are familiar with the buzzing sound a bee makes. Insect: Bumblebee Sound: Buzz Why?: The buzzing sound you hear when a bumblebee zooms past you on it’s way to a flower or hive is created both by the rapid flapping of their wings against the wind and the vibrating of their bodies. A bee’s vibrations allow them to pick up pollen from one flower and shake it off in another–that’s pollination!

Need some help controlling some of these pests around your home? Schedule a service with our pest control experts! No one knows pests like Killingsworth.

What’s That Sound? Why Insects Make The Noises They Make

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.




Scroll to Top