Lights On! Welcome insects!
Turn on a light outside and you invite all the local light seeking insects. There are several theories to explain why insects are attracted to light. For some insects, a bright light source is a sign of safety which are generally positioned on higher ground than the dangerous environment they are currently in. Light also acts as a familiar safety signal. Another theory for attraction to light is that insects use it as a navigational aid. An insect flying east for example, is able to judge its direction by keeping a natural source of light, such as the sun or moon, on its right. If an insect encounters a round porch light, however, it becomes confused by its source. This explains the why the moth continuously encircling a light source and it automatically wants to keep the light on a certain side of its body while navigating its route. Certain insects, such as grubs or earthworms, are negative phototoxic (the difference between insects that are attracted to light and those which are not), meaning they are repelled by an exposure to light.
Moths, butterflies, flies and many other winged insects have positive phototaxy’s and are naturally attracted to it. Some scientists think that the insect is not attracted to the light itself, but the darkness surrounding it. Some insects with multiple lensed eyes can’t adjust from light to dark quickly and can become vulnerable to predators by leaving a light source, so being in the spot light maybe a popular place to be.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C. Randy Bilesky
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