how to wire light bulbs to turn on and off automatically?

Answer 1

Roughneck gave you one idea. Here is another:

Use a photoresistor: its resistance changes with the level of illumination. then use a comparator circuit to determine when it is "light" outside and when it is "dark outside".
connect this conmparator so it drives a power relay --- and pronto you have an atomatic switch to turn on lights at dusk and off at dawn.

You could also use a photodiode and say a 10kilo-Ohm resistor, you would get a voltage that is "high" when it is light outside and "low voltage" when it is dark outside. Then use comparator and a relay as above.

P.S. you may require a power transistor between the comparator and the relay, because comnparators usually deliver a low current and power relays require much higher currents .

Answer 2

Use relays and timers.