It turns out that insects flying around your porch light may not be drawn to the light after all. High-speed infrared camera data suggests that they may have lost their sense of direction and are flying in circles.
This discovery provides a satisfying answer to a long-standing mystery about why moths and other insects are attracted to streetlamps and flames. According to evolutionary biologist Florian Altermatt of the University of Zurich, who was not involved in the study, the explanation is surprisingly simple, defying previous, more complex theories.
Previous hypotheses suggested that flying insects were blinded by light, became trapped, or interpreted light sources as a place to fly for a quick escape. Another idea proposed that the light of the moon served as a compass, and nocturnal insects mistakenly used human-made lights to navigate the world. These lights can be deadly for insects.
Similar to pilots flying planes, flying insects may turn their backs on the sky’s light to keep their feet pointing toward the ground. However, with the invention of LED lights, this strategy may no longer be effective, according to entomologist Samuel Fabian of Imperial College London.
2024-01-30 11:32:11
Post from www.sciencenews.org