Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (1893-1986)
Well well well…so there is something unique about mosquitoes after all. Growing up in Florida I could not sit on the front porch of my house without having my body bombarded by those little rascals. Hearing that high pitch buzzing noise created turmoil knowing I was going to be itching hours after I was simply trying to have an enjoyable moment in the nice weather Florida so often blesses. It turns out that the high pitch noise produced by their wings serves a purpose more than just some side effect of their maintaining flight.
According to a study by Cornell University Scientists have discovered mosquitoes produce pitches in order to mate. The study was published an article in the journal Science,
Science 9 January 2009:Vol. 323. no. 5911, p. 279DOI: 10.1126/science.323.5911.279b
To be honest, lots of animals and bugs sing or dance before mating but mosquitoes are different. They actually harmonize and sing perfect 5ths. The male sings a D and the female sings a G. When they sing together it will generate a harmonic pitch what is also known to us musicians as an overtone. Only when they hear the overtone created will they mate. If this does not occur…they won’t mate. So I feel bad for the tone deaf mosquitoes who don’t hear the pitch because they will never get to experience the joy of creating life. Like I said, many animals/bugs use sounds to mate but none are known to use pitch in the process.
Hear is what it sounds like. Enjoy.
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