Most people never wonder asking why flies make a buzzing sound since they’re typically annoying.
But there is a science behind why they make so much noise despite being so small.
Here is an answer that you might never have expected to learn about how flies make noise.
The Mighty, Noisy Fly
Most people automatically figure that flies make noise from the vibration of their little wings, but that would be false.
The actual sound that is coming from a fly is from the thorax vibrations.
This is where a fly’s wings are connected to and vibrate rapidly through a series of contractions that cause the wings to flap.
Flies don’t have any ability to make noise with their wings since they slice through the air up to 200 times per second.
In most flies, the tops of the wings will slap together just like the sound of clapping your hands.
This micro-sized clap happens at the same speed as they are flying and adds to the buzzing sound that you hear.
This isn’t very helpful for flies since this can lead to static electricity shocks when they land on something conductive.
This causes their brain chemicals to fail and soon start to sputter as they fly away, similar to a car backfiring.
Flies aren’t trying to be pesky but actually communicating with other flies.
Since flies don’t live very long, they need to reproduce so their species can continue to multiply.
This is why they make such a modulating buzzing sound as they fly around.
You’ll hear this sound getting louder as they fly toward your face and head instinctively.
This isn’t their fault since they’re sensing the carbon dioxide that you breathe out.
It may also help a lone fly connect with a mate if they sense the same carbon dioxide that they’re attracted to.
There is another interesting thing about flies and their sense of hearing.
They have antennae hairs on their heads that sense the vibration of other flies vibrating in the area.
When another fly is sensed, the buzzing sound will help the flies to land close to each other so they can determine if they are suited for mating.