Why do flying insects attack lamps? Springer Nature's academic journal "Nature Communications" published an animal behavior research paper in the early morning of January 31st, Beijing time, giving the answer, saying that this is because artificial light, including lights, may destroy the ability of insects to move relative to the horizon. With accurate positioning capabilities, the findings may help people understand why flying insects like to gather around artificial light.
According to reports, people have always known that artificial light can attract flying insects, and there are written records of using light to capture insects in the Roman Empire. However, the reasons behind this phenomenon have remained unclear. Previous research has suggested that insects may use artificial light as an escape route or that insects may be blinded by the light source, among many other theories.
In this study, co-corresponding authors Samuel T. Fabian of Imperial College London and Yash Sondhi of Florida International University in the United States, together with their collaborators, used high-speed infrared cameras to track the three-dimensional flight paths of insects in natural and laboratory environments. , conducting studies on a variety of insects, including moths, dragonflies, fruit flies, and hawkmoths, under a range of light conditions, including point and diffuse UV light sources.
They found that insects have a "dorsal light response" by correcting their flight path so that their backs face the light source. For natural light sources such as the sun, this response allows them to maintain a stable flight path accurately positioned on the horizon. However, artificial light can cause them to make erratic and constant corrections to their flight paths, causing insects to become dazzled and engage in behaviors thought to be attracted to artificial light. (Reporter Sun Zifa’s video source is Springer Nature)
Editor in charge: [Luo Pan]