2007-03-13 03:46:34 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
because it doesnt give off a light of its own - the brightness of the moon has to do with the position of the sun.
2007-03-13 03:48:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
You know people always ask, 'Why do moths fly around my light bulb on the porch?' And the explanation is: moths use the moon for navigation, when they're flying across the landscape. So they fly at a constant angle to moonlight, and the moonlight tends to come in parallel, because the moon is so far away. However, if you bring in something that looks like moonlight, like light bulbs, light coming from light bulbs, right down to them, they actually think they went past the moon, so they circle back, and then they circle again and then pretty soon they just keep going round in circles, and they go right around what they think is the moon, so they're very confused.
It's one of those things that for millions of years the moon's been the only bright object in the sky until humans came around and invented light bulbs, electricity.
So they navigate using the moon.
2007-03-13 03:51:26 · answer #2 · answered by onyx27 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Good question. There is a theory that moths navigate by the position of the moon. If you keep the moon to one side of you, you'll be going in a straight line. Of course, if you confuse a small, nearby light with the moon, and try to keep it on one side of you, you just end up endlessly circling it. This might be why moths appear to be drawn to lights.
2007-03-13 03:50:47 · answer #3 · answered by Ian I 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They are attracted to the Moon but they aren't allowed to go there alone unless they are at least 12 moths old.
2007-03-13 09:00:30 · answer #4 · answered by jase002002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have figured out after millions of years that the the moon is too far away so they dont bother to try and go there any more ,living proof that evolution works .
the first few millions of years of moths did try and they all died ,
the new ones are wiser.
2007-03-15 14:16:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understood they were attracted to the moon, and get confused when they see a lightbulb or such like?
2007-03-13 03:58:44 · answer #6 · answered by SUPER-GLITCH 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because the moon does not generate light - it reflects it
2007-03-13 03:57:31 · answer #7 · answered by Coming Up 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not the right light. No infra-red
2007-03-13 03:50:46 · answer #8 · answered by NEIL B 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They probably ARE attracted to it! But actually REACHING it is too frustrating for them.
2007-03-13 03:49:32 · answer #9 · answered by bradxschuman 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Too far to fly to!
2007-03-13 03:49:07 · answer #10 · answered by Ya-sai 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋