Why are Insects Attracted to Light?
With longer days and warmer lights, many people will spend more and more time outside in the evenings. While outside, it’s hard not to notice a simple natural fact: many insects move toward lights and hang around them. But, why are insects attracted to light? Luckily, Bee Smart Pest Control is an expert on all pests and has all the answers you’re looking for!
Why are Insects Drawn to Light?
The main theory of why bugs and light sources have such a unique relationship at night is due to their ways of navigating. Most insects can see three types of light; ultraviolet lights, blue lights, and green lights. They use UV light to determine where open spaces are to more easily move around. The sun and the sky are natural sources of UV light, and the petals of flowers reflect light as well. The light sources mess up an insect’s ability to navigate and they move erratically because of it. However, their behavior makes even more sense when you factor in one major thing: the moon.
Why do Bugs go Towards Light at Night?
At night, the excess number of lights made by man becomes evident. Nocturnal insects once had a hard time getting around due to the lack of natural light before humanity came to power. So, they began navigating using a resource they did have, the moon. Using the moon to get around is how many nocturnal insects survive. When you factor in artificial lights the explanation is made clear. Moths and other nocturnal bugs confuse modern lights for the moon. Then once they get close to the light they become wildly confused since they’ve made it to what they thought was the moon. You’d also probably be confused if you thought you accidentally made it to the moon!
Are all Insects Attracted to Light?
Many insects are attracted to light. Moths are the most obvious ones, but scientists have also found that flies, mayflies, craneflies, and beetles all go towards the light as well. Creatures that eat insects also seem to be drawn to the light, but that’s probably because bugs can be found there. Light sources can draw frogs, spiders, and other bug-hunters to them like an all-you-can-eat buffet. If you don’t like having all the insects drawn to the lights around your home there’s hope. You can invest in lights that are designed to lower attraction to bugs.
Call a Professional if You Have an Infestation
If you want to make sure you don’t have a pest problem, contact Bee Smart Pest Control. We offer many pest control programs to keep your home safe year-round, and Bee Smart Pest Control will help you get a personalized solution. Bee Smart Pest Control is a local business, so we understand the nuances of Colorado pest control and use chemicals that aren’t harmful to your family or pets. We pride ourselves on our safety and ability to relate to our customers on a personal level. Contact Bee Smart Pest Control online, or call us at 720-937-0527, to get a solution for your exact pest control problem today!