why do Flys always fly around lights?

Question

its weird, they gather around and just fly around the light even though its not on, round and round in circles they go. why?

What fantastic answers. Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

Moths and other simple flying insects use bright sources of light, like the sun, moon, or stars to navigate, much like early sailors would have. By keeping the sun, or a particular star a certain direction from the bow, a sailor can be assured that he is heading on a constant course. Moths use the sun, moon, or stars as a kind of primitive compass or gyroscope, to make sure they are flying in a steady direction.

The trouble comes when the insect mistakes an artificial light for the moon or a star. They try to fly in a straight line, but the light source keep changing orientation in their field of view, so they try to adjust by turning to the right or to the left. As a result, they end up flying in a complete circle around the light, or worse, spiraling into it. The moth can easily escape, however (and they often do,) by flying directly away from the light.

Bright, artificial electric lights have only been around for a short time, so night flying insects have not had time to evolve ways to deal with this kind of problem.

As for houseflies flying in circles even when the light is off, it's probably just a coincidence. Flies have excellent vision, when compared with most insects, and their navigation system is actually rather complex. (This is why they are so difficult to catch.....Flies typically fly only during the daytime when they can see the best...)

Their habit of flying around near the center of the room is because it gives them the best view of their surroundings, including potential enemies, mates, or food sources. Coincidentally, this is where the light usually is, whether it on or off...

Hope that make sense,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Flies (and other flying insects) usually prefer warm spots. Simply because when they are, they don't have to burn up that much nutrients.

A normal light bulb uses 70% of its energy to produce warmth. Insects sense the infra-red radiation and try to get near the source. They can't land on the bulb, 'cause it'll kill'em.

When you turn the light bulb off, it still emits warmth. Thus the insects still fly towards it.

Answer 4

for warmth, flys die when it is cold. for example, put the fly in a bottle with air holes, and put it in the fridge. it slows down after a while because it is too cold, and eventually dies. mostly houses have air conditioning thats cold, so they try to seek warmth. thats why u never see flys in the winter. they find protection from the cold, like birds that migrate. birds and flys both seek warmness, and hate coldness. if u dont believe me, do the jar-in-the-fridge experiment. watch the fly slow down, and die. they want warmth, and lighting gives off warmth. evn when the lights are off, they still give off some warmth.

weird huh?


hope this helps♥

Answer 5

A lot of creatures do this. They use the sun as a reference point in nature keeping it to one side of them when travelling off then keeping it to the other side of them when returning home.
They think the light bulb is the sun. Watch them change direction when they think they are ready to return.

Answer 6

You may notice that flys fly in squares around lights, and the reason they fly in squares is because if they flew in circles they would get dizzy.

Answer 7

they get confused that it is the sun or a window they are attracted to it. It is central to the room.....and the thermal currents running around the sides of the rooms don't interfere with free flight in the centre. Think about where most people walk....it is towards the sides of the room not through the centre that much. We go by and its like a huge waft of air disturbing their flight.

Answer 8

Its a good question... There is a legend about the phenomenon too.
But the truth is that only male bugs attract to the light.. it has to do something with mating and looking better for the female bugs..
wierd huh?

Answer 9

1) they are attracted to light

2) they got blinded by the light

3) they can't get away from the light - they can't see from the dark.

Answer 10

There is some chemical in the light that attracts flies.