We probably will purchase your mouse zappers, after two years of trapping mice using humane traps and driving them a couple of miles away to a nature preserve wood pile. We can’t figure out how they’re getting into the garage (and rarely, house) despite three pest control specialists coming out.
Today I heard a gnawing sound in the ceiling of our rec room – this ceiling continues into our garage, which is attached to the house. When I knocked on the wall nearby or the ceiling, the gnawing would stop and whatever it was would make a distinct buzzing sound! This happened quite a few times, so it was not a coincidence that my banging on the ceiling caused it to buzz. It reminded me of a ciccada buzz or even an electrical buzz – but the sound was of some irritated animal. We’re in Virginia near DC on a wooded lot on a lake – tons of wildlife, which we love. I’ve googled for several hours trying to find out if mice can buzz – it’s sure not something I’ve ever read about! I know squirrels can buzz but am not sure if the sound is the same plus it was starting to get dark and I think it was a little too late for squirrels to be out. We can try with a fourth company but are just at the end of our rope.
First, I suspect you have a flying insect either inside the wall or ceiling and second, it’s either there by mistake or by design.
Wasps, bees, cicada’s, large root beetles and many other flying insects get real active by late spring early summer. And every year around this time many find their way into these homes instead of “out of homes” when they try to leave for the summer. This mostly happens because they make a wrong turn when trying to leave. This wrong turn can lead to ceiling spaces, wall voids and other areas of the home where they can become trapped. In most cases, the buzzing will be heard for a few days and then it will cease due to the insects death. The average home will be used by many insects each fall as they find places to overwinter (hibernate) and stay warm so there is nothing unusual about this happening. And 99% of them leave the home without anyone knowing they were ever there. But if they get caught or trapped, it can make for some odd results and I suspect this could be happening in your home right now.
Alternatively the activity could be quite intentional. There are many insects that readily nest in wood. They are equipped to drill through wood in order to create nests. The short list included CARPENTER ANTS, WOOD WASPS and POWDER POST BEETLES. These pests use wood for nesting and in doing so their drilling will many times lead them to the inside living spaces; other times they’ll come right alongside our living space but never quite show themselves. The residents of the home are sure to hear the buzzing and gnawing they make as they work the wood. The most common insect doing this right now is the CARPENTER BEE. If you don’t know about this pest, read up on them in our article as this would be the one I would bet is most likely what you’re hearing right now. And if you’ve been seeing them outside the home, around some plants or garden you have in the yard, I wouldn’t be surprised if they either have an old nest they’re using or if they’re drilling out a new nest which is now close to your living space. As you’ll learn in the article, carpenter bees drill through wood to create nests. Their nests are usually just a foot two deep. But I’ve seen them drill for 10 feet or more so nests can get quite large. I also know they’ll buzz and chew quite loudly as you can hear in some of our CARPENTER BEE VIDEOS.
Additionally, I’ve seen many homeowners get their homes painted or “fixed up” and in doing so, they inadvertantly seal carpenter bee nests without first treating them with the DRIONE DUST we have featured in our carpenter bee article. When the eggs in these nests finish eating and pupating, they’ll try to emerge. If their exit holes are sealed, they’ll start drilling a new exit hole. This new drilling is what will many times lead them to the inside of the home.
So in summary, here are the three options I suspect might explain what is happening at your home.
1) If the sound you’re hearing continues to “move” through the space over several days, I would guess you have some kind of insect trying to escape a nest where they were trapped.
2) If the sound stops after a few days and does not happen again, I would say you have an isolated case of something that could fly which got trapped in a wall or ceiling space and was trying to get out but couldn’t and died.
3) If the sound continues and stays in the same location, I would say you have an active nest which has an exit hole somewhere to the outside which is allowing whatever is living in there to move in and out. In this situation, the noise will persist at the same spot on the wall and it will last all summer or however long the season is for this insect in your region.
Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:
Carpenter Ants: http://www.carpenterants.com/
Wood Wasps: http://www.bugspray.com/article/horntail.html
Powderpost Beetles: http://www.powderpostbeetles.com/
Carpenter Bees: http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control
Bee Videos: http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-videos
Drione Dust: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page256.html
Hollie says
We have an active nest in our attic. It fits the description you posted, “3) If the sound continues and stays in the same location, I would say you have an active nest which has an exit hole somewhere to the outside which is allowing whatever is living in there to move in and out. In this situation, the noise will persist at the same spot on the wall and it will last all summer or however long the season is for this insect in your region.” We are in North Florida. The insects buzz intermittently from mid morning to late afternoon daily for the entire spring and summer. This has been going on for a few years now and is directly over my bed — so much for sleeping in! I think the culprit is a type of mud dauber because we find at least one in the house each day and can’t figure out how they get inside. Probably through the light fixtures. I just capture and release them as we find them flying at the windows. Today, however, I found a strange brown larvae on the floor in our bathroom. It was brown, about an inch long, and had segments like a caterpillar with a little pointy thing on one end. It moved like an inch worm but without arching its back much. After some research I think the larvae looks most like the black soldier fly larvae. Honesty, I’m not sure if the larvae is even connected to the buzzing we hear, but it was found near the same general area. Also, I have been composting right outside the house in the same area. I realize this may be contributing to the problem. On the other hand, my husband hates spiders. Since mud daubers eat them, I guess we could consider ourselves lucky! :) Just wanting to know if the insects will continue to nest in the same place they were born, and will they damage our roof trusses or just add extra insulation with their muddy homes? Thanks.
admin says
@Hollie: Based on your description of the sound and the length of time it’s been going on, I actually think it could be something more significant like a honey bee nest. They will many times get into a home and go unnoticed since they can easily find a route of entry up high where they can easily be missed even if you are outside the home quite a bit. Honey bees love large voids, they commonly infest homes, they use the same nest from year to year, they’re only active for a fixed amount of time each year and their young are about 1 inch long, have a pointed end to them and will migrate away or fall out of an existing nest when nests get large enough. Based on how long you’ve said this sound has been active, my money is on the “honey”!
At this point I suggest you get outside the home with a cup of coffee or some other beverage and take a slow walk around it. This walk will have to be real slow all the while you make sure you are using your eyes to spy every inch of the home. In most cases a pair of binoculars will be required to see the upper section of the home if you have a two story. Honey bees are small and can be difficult to notice from the ground if they are entering somewhere up above around the upper level of the home. Binoculars can really help as can a lawn chair. This inspection could easily take 20-30 minutes and it should be done mid to late morning which is a time frame most all daily insects are active.
If you want to read up more on how to control a honey bee nest that has gotten into the home, review our article posted here:
http://www.bugspray.com/article/honeybees.html
And if you spy some other wasp or bee entering and you suspect it’s another species, let me know. Chances are we have an in depth article on whatever it turns out to be posted here:
http://www.bugspray.com/#pest%20products
L. David Williams says
I had heard the gnawing sound and thought it was mice, then hitting the wall to make it stop caused buzzing. Curious the find the cause I entered the attic. My discovery was multiple wasp nest in my eves, seeing that the weather was turning cold the wasp were inactive. The source of the nawing soud became obvious as mouse droppings were found next to completely chewed out wasp nest. So I concluded the mice entered the attic to eat the wasp causing both sounds at night. In response I sprayed or removed any nests I found, and the mice haven’t returned.
Tech Support says
@L. David Williams: Interesting but not surprising if the mice were feeding on the wasps. In fact many species of mice rely on insects as their main source of food. Furthermore, we learned a long time ago that in general, rodents love to nest as close to food as possible. Consequently, if you take away their food, you can many times reduce the odds of getting a rodent problem. Sounds like you’re achieving that exact result!
Emmie says
I have a buzzing sound coming from my walls. It seems to only be in one place and i think it is near above my windows. The noise isn’t constant and there are times where it is quiet for a minute or two. I would describe the sound to be like a fly that is stuck and the buzz is sometimes very quiet and slow or louder and fast. It’s been about 5-6 days and it makes noises all day everyday. Any ideas on what it could be and how to get rid of it??
Tech Support says
Emmie,
Could be a range of pests. Most common right now are carpenter bees. Females have been hard at work drilling holes the past couple of months and if there is a nest in the area where you hear the sound, it could simply be a female working away at the wood.
Another option would be a trapped carpenter bee. We see this happen when a homeowner gets their home painted or if they recently applied some caulking to the homes exterior and inadvertently sealed a carpenter bee hole. Even if it was cold, this nest could have been holding developing eggs which would have no way to escape when ready (which is generally in the spring, early summer). This in turn would cause them to start drilling and many times they end up drilling “in”.
Lastly, if you go outside and “watch” the area where you hear the sound, you may spy something entering or leaving. This could reveal the insect for a positive id.
More information on carpenter bees can be found here:
Carpenter Bee Control: http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control.html
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Narcisa says
I am hearing a scratching sound in my ceiling constantly and only at night. I assumed it was a mouse or even a bird from how loudly it was scratching. I could compare it to a chicken scratching the ground. It sounds like it’s definitely getting through the ceiling material and working its way across the room. It has started to make a drilling sound as I continue to listen. When I turn on a light the sound goes away. Please help me identify this critter.
Tech Support says
Narcisa,
Its most likely a roof rat, mouse, vole or flying squirrel. These animals commonly get into attic spaces and wall voids and typically “dig” into sheetrock or other parts of the home. Unfortunately we’re not able to tell you exactly what it might be. But if you want to keep it out and all other animals, install one of our Ultra Sound Repellers. Our unit will work on all pests and once installed in this space, no animal will come around to nest or dig. Personally I’m using 3 in my attic spaces and they’ve proven to be the only “fix” to annual invasions I had been getting every fall and winter.
Sound Repeller: https://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/sound/usd-animal-repeller-wireless-remote-led.html
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: http://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html
Matthew says
I too have an intermittent buzzing coming from above the ceiling in my study. My question is, is a hive noticeable by the volume/intensity of buzzing or can they be relatively discreet while building a large nest?
Tech Support says
Matthew,
Simply put, the sounds bees and wasps make when building a nest will vary so much there is no sure way to know if one is being constructed. In this case, you most definitely need to get up into the attic to inspect the area. Only then will learn what is happening. Now if you’re not able to get up there, call a professional who is experienced enough to climb into attics for pest related problems. Once you get up and there and find out what is happening, you can decide to either hire a professional to solve the problem (assuming its some kind of pest) or you can contact us again for help on how to do the work yourself.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: http://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html
Tj says
I know it is 10 years ago, but this is in reply to the original post. It IS possible for the sound to have been a mouse and not an insect. We caught a pair of mice in a humane trap and couldn’t figure out what was making that sound until we found out that mice can make a drumming sound with their front foot that sounds very much like the irritated buzz of an insect as the poster described.
Tech Support says
TJ,
This thread is still very much “alive” and yes, mice can make range of sounds. Mostly due to the range of species that can enter a home; they all behave differently and some do make odd sounds.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Lisa says
I’m hearing something moving around in my wall on side of my house near window. It’s been happening for about a week. I have vinyl siding.
Tech Support says
Most likely carpenter bees. They will readily nest under the vinyl and can easily get “stuck”. More information on how to treat can be found on our site here:
Carpenter Bee Control: https://bugspray.com/article/carpenterbee.html
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
PS: Are you signed up for our informative twice a month Pest Report Newsletter? More info here: https://bugspray.com/bugspray_pest_report.html