Why are Insects Attracted to Light?

You know how moths like to fly into lamps or crawl all over your tv screen at night? Why do they do this?! The answer is more complicated than you might think...

Hosted by: Hank Green
----------
----------
Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters -- we couldn't make SciShow without them! Shout out to Kathy & Tim Philip, Kevin Bealer, Andreas Heydeck, Thomas J., Accalia Elementia, Will and Sonja Marple. James Harshaw, Justin Lentz, Chris Peters, Bader AlGhamdi, Benny, Tim Curwick, Philippe von Bergen, Patrick Merrithew, Fatima Iqbal, Mark Terrio-Cameron, Patrick D. Ashmore, and charles george.
----------
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
----------
Sources:

[LiamBarlow]

Why are insects attracted to light?

"turns out nobody knows for sure"

Great.

[Captainoob]

I'm here from those damn moth memes

[mrcaboosevg]

You know when it's hot at night so you open the window and every living insect within a mile flies into your room? Yeah, fucking hate that

[AngryKittens]

It's their religion. All hail light.

[Lowrider]

Let me get L A R G E L A M P

here because of memes

[voluntarism]

They're disorientated and are actually trying to get away

[RougeRavenDesigns]

This video helped me get a giant bee out of a cafeteria full of screaming kids. I shut off all the lights, opened the outside door, and waved an LED flashlight. Worked like a charm. Thanks Hank!

[locust]

2024 update: The newest information is that the artificial light source is confusing flying insects who have dorsal sensors (meaning on their backs) so that they can detect the natural sources of light like the sun and reflective lunar light. The insects are trapped in this flying death cycle with their backs facing the artificial light source. This is contributing to the decline of the insect world and their role in our ecosystems.

[Marbof]

Another addition in the long line of "things you think would have easy answers and have a certainty about them."

[ShikiSenriismine]

I feel nothing when a mosquito hits a bug zapper; because I'm always getting eaten alive by the little s- -hits.

[pnkflyd]

A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a moth sitting next to him. "Are you a moth?" asked the man, surprised. "Yes." Said the moth "Well what are you doing at the movies?" The moth replied, "Well, I really liked the book so..."

[organizationxua]

The white stripes on Hank's shirt confused me, and for a moment, I thought he was glowing. No worries Hank, your radiant smile still makes my day. :D

[RudiL]

Every SciShow episode ever:

"Why does [insert interesting science question here]?"

20 seconds later:

"Nobody knows".

[MrMegaLN]

I remember thinking about this once. I thought that insects were attracted to lights in the dark (mild or pitch black) because they have poor vision. So, they would flock towards a light source which would provide a environment in which they could see well. I also thought of an analogy for this. It's like when you gravitate towards areas with streetlamps during nighttime. They provide light so that you can observe your surroundings more clearly. This creates a sort of bubble of light and vision in the midst of darkness which I imagine would be the same as an insect flying around a light source at night.

[smoyonojoto]

I Think They Are Trapped In A Loop Trying To Turn Their Backs To The Light

[PureGold]

Cool tip: if you want to get rid of a moth, light a candle

[TheVergile]

a 3:20 non-skippable ad in front of a 2:34 video. well done.

[juliakiss]

LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP LÄMP

[nnamdi]

For mosquitoes I always thought they mistake a source of light for a source of heat (aka a warm-blooded animal on which to suck on) as it is the same kind of radiation which would also explain why they are nocturnal. Nighttime grants better conditions to track animals' heat tracks.

[theodorwells]

its so annoying when insects sit on my screen.