2007-09-02 02:16:24 · 15 answers · asked by mrmoe_money 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Most moths are nocturnal. (This is one of the things that distinguishes them from butterflies.) They don't come out in the day for the same reason most nocturnal animals don't come out in the day ... to avoid predators. So the real question is why they seem to be attracted to light.
Moths are not really "attracted" to light. There is no survival benefit that anybody can think of to coming out at night in order to avoid predators, and then to seek a light source that makes them visible again, without providing any benefit.
So the only possible explanation for their *seeming* attraction to light must be that this is an unfortunate (for them) side-effect of how they evolved.
It's important to keep in mind that until recently (the last few thousand years) the only light source at night is the moon. The existence of human-generated light sources is a very recent thing in the world ... within the last few thousand years only. So there is clearly something about human-generated light sources that completely throws off the way moths normally work at night.
The leading explanation is that moths use the position of the moon (and possibly starlight when there is no moon) as a visual landmark for flying straight (otherwise, they are literally flying blind). The natural instinct to keep the light source in a particular place in their visual systems, causes them to spiral around, and into, any earth-bound light source.
2007-09-02 02:31:13 · answer #1 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Whilst many moths are indeed nocturnal there are many moths which are not. I have humming bird moths in my garden which are nectar feeders and come out only in the day. Just like other nocturnal species, the nocturnal moths roost and sleep through daylight. As for those moths, lacewings, mosquitos and flies which do come out in the evening and flock towards the artificial light, the geckos love them.
2007-09-04 03:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by oldhombre 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-16 09:16:50 · answer #3 · answered by maiale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are attratced to light allright. But think abt it, is there any difference in the intensity of light on a bright sunny day and that of a dim bulb or a candle?
Sunlight's too bright for the poor moths.They do come out during the day, but they don't venture very far out of the shade.
2007-09-03 08:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by coolcat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are attracted to the contrast between light and dark, they'll see a bright light ages away if it's in the dark but in the day they will not see it so clearly as everything is light and blends in, nothing dominatley stands out.
2007-09-02 03:08:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to ask a question in a question, but where do all moths go during the day then?
2007-09-03 11:21:37 · answer #6 · answered by Catty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use natural night light, stars and moon for navigation. Unnatural lighting humans have invented confuses their navigation system when they try to fly in a straight line toward the light. If they are following the moonlight, they can travel forever and never run into the moon. If they are using artificial light Whammo! They run into it.
2007-09-02 03:16:38 · answer #7 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they're nocturnal.
during the day most of their predators, pretty much all but bats and frogs are out, safer to sleep the day away.
they're attracted to the light so they can see to eat watch for predators, and find mates. the same as most any other species. evolution just decided theyd be better off doing it at night.
2007-09-02 02:19:43 · answer #8 · answered by Briana C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Theres ne light bulbs, candles burnin thru the day!!! And they're nocturnal ( come out at nite). Every1 knows dat.
2007-09-02 02:40:51 · answer #9 · answered by Big Bad Bitch 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They do come out during the day, but we can't see them coz we arent anywhere near the source of the day-light, it is the sun that the source is.
So we don't see them, while they are on their way to the sun :D
Thank you.
2007-09-02 02:24:50 · answer #10 · answered by ♥Hermione answers♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋