Why are moths attracted to flame? | Earth | EarthSky (2024)
You might have heard the saying like a moth to a flame to describe a fatal attraction. But why are moths attracted to flame? Why are they so much attracted by it – or by the light of a bug zapper – that they fly straight into it? The fact is, entomologists – that is, scientists who study insects – aren’t sure.
One idea is that moths aren’t so much attracted to the light of a flame or other bright light as they are disoriented by it. Here’s how it works. Like many flying insects, moths are able to find their way partly by using light as a compass. When the source of light is the sun or moon, that light source is very distant, and the incoming light rays that strike the insect arrive just about parallel to each other. So moths – and many other flying insects – have evolved to expect to receive light at a fixed part of the eye (“transverse orientation“).
As long as the moth flies more or less in a straight line, this visual pattern remains unchanged. But, when the light source is a nearby candle, for example, then the angle at which the light strikes the moth’s eye quickly changes while the moth holds to a straight-line course. The moth tries to do what it has evolved to do under the light of the sun or moon – that is, maintain a constant angle to the source. As it does so, it spirals in toward the light and might end up drawn into the flame.
Another theory says that light sources which emit ultraviolet light as well as visible light attract moths. Humans can’t see ultraviolet, but it’s important to insects because many flowers have patches of ultraviolet “color” on them to guide their pollinators. Moths may mistake the floods of ultraviolet light from such sources as bug zappers for a lush field of tasty flowers and follow the spurious signal to their doom.
In yet another theory, infrared (heat) radiation from light sources may look like the infrared reflection from moth pheromones – chemicals released by insects to attract mates. In this case male moths may be fooled into thinking a sexy female awaits them, once again being fatally deceived.
In 2016, two biologists published a study in the peer-reviewed journal Biology Letters on the possible evolutionary consequences of our modern, artificially-lit world on moths. They tested the flight-to-light behavior of 1048 adult ermine moths, whose larvae they’d collected in 2007, just after the insects had just completed their first molt. Some were rural moths, with 320 from populations that lived under largely dark skies. The other 728 were urban moths, gathered in light-polluted areas. All the moths were then raised in a lab with 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of darkness daily while they completed their life stages. A report in Scienceexplained:
Two to three days after emerging as moths, they were released in a flight cage with a fluorescent tube at one side. Moths from high light pollution areas were significantly less attracted to the light than those from the darker zones … Overall, moths from the light-polluted populations had a 30 percent reduction in the flight-to-light behavior, indicating that this species is evolving, as predicted, to stay away from artificial lights. That change should increase these city moths’ reproductive success.
But their success comes at a cost: To avoid the lights, the moths are likely flying less, say the scientists, so they aren’t pollinating as many flowers or feeding as many spiders and bats.
And so, even among moths, we have another example of how humans are affecting nature!
Bottom line: There are several theories as to why moths – and other flying insects – are attracted to light.
Like a moth to a flame, er, lamp, insects are drawn to bright lights because they confuse the animals' navigational systems. It's a familiar sight, especially in the summertime: moths and other insects gathered around lights like lamps. Often, creatures entranced in such a glow get eaten by predators or overheat.
In other words, it's just male moths that are attracted to flames because they wrongly assume that they're going to get lucky. This doesn't explain their attraction to UV light, which doesn't emit the same light wavelengths as moth pheromones, but it does say something very profound about the lure of love.
Most nocturnally active moths are attracted to light, a phenomenon known as positive phototaxis. However, some species like the Old Lady (Mormo maura) tend to be repelled by it (they are negatively phototactic).
Moths are attracted to light (no one really knows why although there are a number of theories), and also to the smell of fermented sugar and ripe fruit – both food sources. Any type of light will attract moths. Just leave a porch light on and wait and see what is attracted to it.
The theory postulates that moths evolved with the moon as their chief point of reference for flying, using its light to maintain a steady angle of flight. A light bulb or candle flame disorients the moth, confusing it and causing it to reorient itself to the artificial light.
The vast majority of adult moths don't have mouths and are incapable of biting anything, much less you. For the most part, they also don't sting. However, moths begin life as larvae, called caterpillars, before they go through a metamorphosis process and emerge with wings.
Pyrophilous species are known in beetles, bugs, wasps, moths and also in flies. Some of these species evidently possess highly sensitive sensors to detect bushfire products such as infrared radiation and chemicals in smoke.
However, if you are looking for a chemical-free way to kill clothing moths, the best way to deal with them is by cooking or freezing the larvae and eggs. To kill clothing moth larvae and eggs by heat, place the items in an oven or food dryer at a temperature higher than 120° F (50° C) for at least 30 minutes.
A 2022 review found strong evidence for pain in adult insects of two orders (Blattodea: co*ckroaches and termites; Diptera: flies and mosquitoes) and found substantial evidence for pain in adult insects of three additional orders (Hymenoptera: sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants; Lepidoptera: moths and butterflies; and ...
Clothes moths like moist areas of the home because they don't drink water and need to get moisture from the clothes they eat. Human sweat left on clothing provides the dampness they need. These moths are attracted to common things found in our closets and even throughout the home including: Cotton.
Moth dust is not harmful to humans or animals. Although this dusty powder may not be very appealing, it is not dangerous. The only time that moths are harmful is when they are Clothes Moth or Pantry Moths and once in the home they will cause real damage to fabric materials and stored food items.
Moths and other insects are repelled by the pheromones in cedar. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Combine the following in a bag that you can hang anywhere you keep clothes or food: lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Moths also hate the odors of these herbs.
Air, heat, or freeze items you don't dry-clean or wash. A combination of sunlight and vigorously brushing the infested items can kill moth eggs and larvae.
Although standard white bulbs do attract moths, preferable are black lights or even better mercury vapor lights. They emit a broader spectrum of light which increases the amount of moths than can “receive” the light signals.
A male moth ignores his lady to chow down on a hat and she's soon seduced by a candle flame, which rapidly spreads. He notices her trapped in a spider web with the fire attacking and makes some attempts to save her, but pours benzene on the fire by mistake.
This is a myth, sort of. While it is not good to touch a butterfly or moth, a moth's wing is designed to lose tiny scales, which look like powder. But the moth can still fly. Read more at Science.HowStuffWorks.com.
Moths are generally peaceful creatures. They do not attack or try to hurt humans and they just keep to themselves. They do not bite or sting, unlike wasps, spiders, or ants.
When you touch a moth, the danger isn't that you might remove his scales, it's that you can easily harm his delicate wings without realizing it. Avoid touching a moth if possible.
Depending on the species, moth poop tends to appear differently. This insect produces clusters of small grains that look like tiny balls as its digestive waste. The more leaves they consume, the more poop or frass they tend to excrete. It's not that difficult to see this insect's scat.
Rest assured, the kinds of moths that flutter around your room at night won't sting, bite, or otherwise hurt you. Still, you should probably try to catch and remove moths in your bedroom.
Much like other pests, moths are attracted to heat. If you have an attic or a crawlspace in your home, the temperature in those areas will be much higher than in the rest of your house. This is why moths often congregate in these areas.
If you touch a moth's wings, the delicate scales will shed - especially when rubbed against. The oils on your fingers cause the scales to stick, creating a dusty, slightly translucent film. Moth scales are shed easily to help them escape predators.
High wattage bulbs and lights that use glowing filaments (halogen and incandescent) will provide a warm welcome for bugs even if they put off a yellow light.
''Just as insects are attracted to weakened trees in a drought, they can also sense through heat and smoke when trees are in trouble during a fire,'' said Dwight Scarbrough, a U.S. Forest Service entomologist. ''Environmentally, they know there's going to be a feast.
Smoke has long been used as a natural repellent for flying insects and it's the best way to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard that I am aware of. What is this? The fine particles in smoke, along with certain chemicals inherent in wood smoke are not an environment mosquitoes want to play in.
Freezing infested woolens can work to kill clothes moths if there is an abrupt change from warm (70° F; 21° C) to freezing (0° F; - 18° C) and leaving the items for at least 72 hours once the material reaches 0° F.
Moths are generally peaceful creatures. They do not attack or try to hurt humans and they just keep to themselves. They do not bite or sting, unlike wasps, spiders, or ants. They do cause economic damages and are certainly a nuisance to have around the house.
When you touch a moth, the danger isn't that you might remove his scales, it's that you can easily harm his delicate wings without realizing it. Avoid touching a moth if possible.
Moths play a vital role in food webs and are an important food item for songbirds, mammals, and other insects. Moths also are important pollinators, particularly those that are active after dark, when many other pollinating animals have settled down for the night.
Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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