A team from Cardiff University has appealed to more than 3,000 beekeepers to send them photos, videos and audio files from hives over the summer.
The noises will be analysed at the School of Pharmacy.
The research will also help them learn where the bees find their feed by mapping the exact locations they were pictured or recorded.
"The Africanised honey bee makes different sound to the European bees," said microbiology professor Les Bailie.
"The bees we have on the roof of the school here are Italian. Do the bees in Cardiff make the same sound as those in Aberystwyth or Wrexham?"
Prof Bailie said bees could make up to 10 different noises depending on their mood, including angry, calm or ill.
Analysing the "known noises" can help determine where bees are from, but could also be used to play to bees to help their mood.
"A happy bee is a productive bee. If you can make the bee happy by playing them the right sound they can produce more honey," Prof Bailie said.
"Plotting these differences could ultimately help us in our bid to find out which plants help bees the most.
"Gathering photos, video and sound files will help us understand where gaps lie and will help put plants in the right places to make bees more productive."
If enough beekeepers respond, and investigators detect initial differences, the project could be rolled out to include more than 40,000 beekeepers across the UK.

The French government proposed senior diplomat Laurent Stefanini for the post in January but the Vatican is yet to respond to approve the choice.
The Vatican usually responds within six weeks to approve such a new ambassador.
The nomination of Mr Stefanini was seen as a litmus test for Pope Francis, who has taken a more liberal stance on homosexuality.
A French government spokesman said there had been negotiations with the Vatican over the appointment.
"France has chosen its ambassador to the Vatican. This choice was Stefanini and that remains the French proposal," said spokesman Stephane Le Foll.
Observers say most Vatican appointments are confirmed within six weeks and that this long silence should be read as a rejection.
The Vatican traditionally makes no statement if it intends to decline a nomination.
Mr Stefanini served in the Holy See as a deputy ambassador in the French embassy from 2001 to 2005.
He was described by the country's foreign ministry as "one of our best diplomats".
France legalised same-sex marriage in 2013, despite opposition from the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis is regarded as more tolerant of homosexuality than previous popes. "Who am I to judge?", he said in 2013.
Scientists are trying to find out if bees make different sounds depending on where in Wales they are.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
France has said it will not back down over its nomination of an openly gay ambassador to the Vatican.