Loudest insect
- Who
- Brevisana brevis
- When
- 01 January 0001
The African cicada (Brevisana brevis) produces a calling song with a mean sound pressure level of 106.7 decibels at a distance of 50 cm (1 ft 7.5 in). Cicada songs play a vital role in communication and reproduction.
The only British species is the very rare mountain cicada (Cicadetta montana), which is confined to the New Forest area in Hampshire. Noise intensity is measured in decibel units (dB) with silence equal to 0 dB. Rustling leaves is 10 dB, a whisper is 20 dB, a normal conversation is 60dB, busy street traffic is 70 dB, a vacuum cleaner is 80 dB and a large orchestra is 98 dB. Listening to your average walkman at maximum level is equal to 100 dB and standing in the front row of a rock concert is 110 dB. Anything over 120 dB is painful to the human ear such as the sound of a military jet taking off which can reach 140 dB.
The only British species is the very rare mountain cicada (Cicadetta montana), which is confined to the New Forest area in Hampshire. Noise intensity is measured in decibel units (dB) with silence equal to 0 dB. Rustling leaves is 10 dB, a whisper is 20 dB, a normal conversation is 60dB, busy street traffic is 70 dB, a vacuum cleaner is 80 dB and a large orchestra is 98 dB. Listening to your average walkman at maximum level is equal to 100 dB and standing in the front row of a rock concert is 110 dB. Anything over 120 dB is painful to the human ear such as the sound of a military jet taking off which can reach 140 dB.