Nighttime insects orbiting artificial light not drawn to the glow but trapped in disorienting orbit, scientists say. Researchers have recently published a study about the surprising behavior of nocturnal insects around artificial light sources like porch lights and streetlights. The study highlights how insects do not fly directly toward light sources in their “erratic” behavior around them, but rather remain perpendicular to it which gives the illusion of attraction.
The team of researchers used motion capture cameras and filmed with infrared lighting to observe the insects without disturbing them. They found that the insects start to create strange orbits and steering patterns around the lights. Insects in the air don’t have a good perception of what direction is up, and they mistake the artificial lighting for the sky; because of this, they carry out these unusual behaviors.
Insects are confused by the artificial light and believe that it is the sky, says study co-author Samuel Fabian. The light pollution caused by artificial light has contributed to a decline in global insect populations, and understanding the impact of artificial light on nocturnal insects is crucial. The world has experienced widespread “loss of night” according to scientists.
This research could have important implications for reducing the effects of light pollution on insects and may help in the conservation of insects. “If the light does not contribute anything, it must be turned off,” says entomologist Jason Dombroskie, manager of the Cornell University Insect Collection and the Insect Diagnostic Laboratory.