2006-08-22 10:34:08 · 6 answers · asked by sqrly 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
The light attracts them. You can buy special light bulbs that don't attract bugs!!
This attraction to light is a response called phototaxis.
When insects fly at night they use light sources such as the moon for navigation. Light from a distant source reaches both eyes with the same intensity. This enables the insect to fly in a straight line with both wings beating at the same rate.
If the light is from a closer source such as a candle or lantern, it changes the insect's perception. The light is perceived stronger in one eye than in the other eye. This causes the wing on one side to move faster. The insect then begins to approach the light in a spiral path, eventually drawing them into the light itself.
Many bugs see ultraviolet light and may be attracted to flowers at night which reflect ultraviolet patterns using moonlight. Lights which emit UV rays may therefore attract such insects.
I hope this helps.
2006-08-22 10:39:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
They are just attracted to the UV rays emitted by the lights. They use UV rays to navigate but at night, there is no sun, therefore no source of UV rays but the lamps/lightposts/etc. Therefore they will keep flying around and around them, because it is the only thing emmiting the rays.
The UV rays from the sun are all parallel due to the large distance from the earth. Lightbulbs emit them in all directions so the bugs will revolve it continually.
2006-08-22 10:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by jpklla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One theory suggests that moths are attracted to light because of their migratory nature. Moths regularly travel long distances guided by starlight and the moon. Hence, a light bulb may act as a proxy moon.
2006-08-22 10:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by Shawn D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flies (and different flying bugs) in many cases choose heat spots. through fact while they are, they do no longer would desire to dissipate that lots nutrition. a classic easy bulb makes use of 70% of its capacity to offer heat temperature. bugs sense the infra-purple radiation and attempt to get close to the source. they'd't land on the bulb, 'reason it will kill'em. once you swap the easy bulb off, it nevertheless emits heat temperature. consequently the bugs nevertheless fly in the direction of it.
2016-12-17 15:28:55 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The light attracts them.
2006-08-22 10:53:35 · answer #5 · answered by Carol H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are drawn to the heat
2006-08-22 10:41:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋