Bugs and lights, whats the attraction?
Question: My kids want to know why insects are attracted to lights, that is, why do they fly towards lights all of the time. Even after getting burned by the light, they still keep on doing it. doug moe Answer: The following is from “It’s Raining Frogs and Fishes” by Jerry Dennis. “There seems little reason a moth should be distracted from its business of sipping nectar and avoiding predators by something as dangerous as an artificial light. Yet, porch lamps and streetlights are irresistible beacons to moths. Moths circle the light as if mes- merized, in frenzied, dizzy orbits. Once caught in their blind orbits, moths become easy prey for bats and nighthawks, or they batter themselves to death, or singe their wings to uselessness on hot surfaces, or die of exhaustion. And nobody knows why.” Although nobody knows why, here are a couple of theories (also from the abovementioned book): Moths may be naturally attracted to a bright moon, causing them to fly higher and helping to disperse th
