Do LED Lights Attract Bugs? | LED Outdoor Lighting (2024)

FAQs

Do LED Lights Attract Bugs? | LED Outdoor Lighting? ›

Usually, LED lights wavelength does not attract bugs like traditional incandescent lights. Insects usually perceive light in the 300-650 nm range.

LED lights emitting ultraviolet (UV) and a high blue spectrum have a strong attraction for bugs compared to other lights. Various bugs are drawn to wavelengths ranging from 300 to 650 nanometers (nm), encompassing ultraviolet light in the lower 300-400nm range as well as the broader visible spectrum beyond.

The bottom line is that LEDs' energy efficiency, their unattractiveness to insects, and the fact that they're so long lasting makes them one of the best deck or porch railing lights.

Use Yellow or Warm-Coloured LEDs

Warm-toned bulbs (around 2700K) are less visible to insects, meaning they won't be able to locate the light source and infest your bedroom.

A black light is great if you have one, but you can successfully attract insects with any bright light. Ideally, you'll want to hang your light in front of the sheet (so it's not sitting on the ground). You may need an extension cord if your light is not battery operated.

A 2021 UCLA study confirmed that the color of LED light used is a major factor in whether or not insects are affected. The main outcome of the study—and the widely accepted answer, as of now—is that insects are less attracted to yellow and amber lights, while more attracted to blue and ultraviolet light.

There are a few scenarios where leaving your porch light on at night is a good idea. One such case is when you leave the house and won't be back until late in the evening. Likewise, if you have children and expect them home late, it's a good idea to leave your outside lights on until they're home.

To keep the bugs away, try and avoid installing lights in the cooler light spectrum. Trying switching to a warmer, yellower light. Insects don't see nearly as well in the yellow to infra-red spectrum. Since they can't see yellow lights as much, they won't be as drawn to them.

Purple/violet

Similarly, purple was also ignored by the mosquitoes. This is mainly because violet has the shortest wavelength of any color on the visible light spectrum. And since they have a preference for long-wavelength, red and orange tones, they won't come anywhere near it.

What color do bugs hate? ›

Because bugs see colors on the UV spectrum, they cannot register hues of green or blue. Painters even use blue paint to repel bees and wasps. Painting your porch ceiling in a blue tone could repel wasps, leading to fewer wasp-eating spiders around your home!

The results of the investigation on what color will repel the greatest number of co*ckroaches, indicate that red light repels a greater number of roaches than the other five colored lights and the control group of no light. Green light deterred the second most roaches followed by white, yellow, and blue.

LED lights are bright and provide space for insects to crawl and hide easily. However, the color and intensity of the light matter a lot. Usually, LED strip lights and LED lighted mirrors may run cooler than other lighting options. But it emits bright light and attracts spiders and bugs easily.

Because most LED lights don't emit UV light or generate a lot of heat, they tend attract very few insects. Insects are attracted to light. However, LED light gives off less heat, and also emits the wrong colours of the visible light spectrum, resulting in less insects being attracted to them.

Some insects like moths just seem to be naturally drawn to and mesmerized by these sources of light, occasionally even colliding with light bulbs head on.

Lights manufactured to produce Ultraviolet and high blue color spectrums attract bugs more than any other lights. The appropriate wavelength suitable for attracting different bugs lies in the range of 300-650nm. Ultra violet sits below the visible spectrum in the 300-400nm portion off that range.

Although we have established that LED lights are unlikely to attract spiders, it's important to consider other factors in your home that might. One of the main factors is the presence of food sources. Spiders are predators and require prey to survive.

This is because mosquitoes are not attracted to ultraviolet or LED light any more than they are to other sources of light. LED lights put off less warmth than other bulbs, making them even less likely to attract mosquitoes.

The correct answer to the question asked in the title is YES. LED light bulbs are undoubtedly good for outdoor use, provided that they have high IP rating, and they suit your garden. It's worth spending some time to find the safest lights. After all, you wouldn't want the moisture and dust to get inside the bulbs!