ELi5: If (most) nocturnal insects are attracted to light sources, why aren’t they just out and about during the daytime?
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Also, I’m not sure if the flair should be biology, but I can change it if I need to!
They generally have very poor vision and are attempting to use the moon to navigate at night. If you keep the moon to the left you’ll be flying straight.
They mistake a light bulb for the moon and spiral into it, blinded and confused by the much-closer-than-expected light source that confounded their navigation.
They’re nocturnal for various reasons, usually to take advantage of night-blooming plants, make a mating racket in the quieter conditions, or avoid the large number of birds that are active during the day.
They don’t go towards light sources because they like light, they go towards them because they think it is the moon, and flying at a constant angle to the moon will make them go in a straight line. Flying at a constant angle to a lightbulb will either make them circle it, spiral outwards away from it, or spiral inwards towards it. It’s this third group that ends up gathered around it, and leads to the misconception that they are attracted to the light itself.
I have wondered if bugs are attracted to light because it could mean escape. For example, if they become trapped in a tree hollow or similar, the apparent spot of light would be the way out.
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