moths

[annabelle]

why are moths attracted to artificial light?

[take money]

i remember my dad telling my mom that it's because they believe it to be the moon. sounds logical.

[mapoftazzy]

Do you really think that a moth has any concept of 'the moon'? Insects have evolved to follow sources of light, this helps them to avoid getting trapped inside enclosed spaces. If you want to get a bluebottle (for example) out of your bedroom at night switch off the light but leave on the landing light, it will leave almost immediately. You can lead the thing through the whole house using this method. Evolution didn't account for Man inventing glass which is why a fly will bump it's head against a window for hours on end!

[Pirotic]

no it is something to do with the moon, after all. they would all just head for the sun at day-time if your theory was correct, im sure they dont comprehend what the moon is but thats what is built into there instincts.

[G.]

i don't have the answer, but if the insects would just fly into the sun during the day, then what stops them from flying in to the moon all night ?? ... .. (their ... )

[Witchbane]

I dont know the full answer but i think the light confuses their sense of direction and they think they are flying away from it but they keep going towards it.

[jEni82uK]

I think it something to do with the fact that moths are vulnerable to predators when they are exposed in the light, because if you look at a light bulb there is a darkness behind the light, it is all an illusion but the moth is trying to reach the ultimate darkness on the other side of the light to escape harm, its all to do with survival instints, well this is how scientists figure it. who knows, I am not a moth, but it seems logical.

[sft42]

I think they use the light from the moon to navigate so when the light source is so close it screws them up. This doesn't explain what happens when it's cloudy of course

[mTaz]

Its not just moths. All insects are, well apparently only male insects. Basically, ready for this, its a sex thing. Females release pheromones to attract males. These pheromones emit some infrared radiation. This is similar to the radiation emitted by artificial light, so male insects are attracted, thinking they've pulled...

[Haitch]

Moths actually think any source of light is the moon. They use it for navigation by flying at 90 degrees to the angle of the light rays. Because the moon's light rays are near enough parallel they can use it to remain at a constant altitude. Artificial light confuses them because the light rays are not parallel and they end up flying in circles around the light source. Their adjustment for the minor variance in the moon's light rays from parallel and to overcome gravity causes them to fly in ever decreasing circles nearer to the artificial light source.

[surfjunkie]

im totally in agreement with take money on this one. i remember mr attenborough saying moths are attracted to any artificial light confusing it with the moon

[PaulYukochan]

Because they weren't hugged enough as children?

[Flanj]

The quality of light from the moon is completely different from that of the sun and so theories involving attempts to fly to the sun in the daytime are very unlikely. Mapoftazzy, very convincing answer but moth behaviour is completely different from fly behaviour, in respect to this and of course, in general. It is perfectly possible for a moth to have some concept of the moon, just not the one that we have got. If bees can use the sun for navigation purposes then I have to say my money is on Haitch's explanation.