Why do bees buzz?

Honeybees beat their wings roughly 230 times per second, and that rapid motion pushes air in pulses our ears hear as a buzz. The pitch depends on wingbeat frequency, so bigger, slower-winged insects sound lower. Bees can also buzz without flying by vibrating their flight muscles while the wings are uncoupled. Bumblebees use this in “buzz pollination”, shaking flowers such as tomatoes and blueberries so they release pollen. Bees also use vibrations to communicate inside the hive, and a colony’s buzz can change when it is preparing to swarm or has lost its queen.