The Confusion of Insects: Debunking the Attraction to Light Theory

New research suggests that flying insects are not actually attracted to light, but rather become confused by artificial lights at night, which scramble their innate navigational systems. Insects do not fly directly toward a light source, but tilt their backs toward it, causing midair confusion. This study used motion-capture video to observe how insects react to different light sources, finding that their flight is least disrupted by lights shining straight downward.