The interaction between flying insects and artificial light has long been observed, with various theories proposed to explain why insects are drawn to light sources. Some theories suggest that insects are attracted to light as an escape mechanism or because they mistake it for the moon. Others propose that insects are attracted to the thermal radiation or that their night-adapted eyes are blinded by artificial lights. However, there is still no definitive answer to explain this phenomenon. Recent research using high-resolution motion capture and field experiments has provided new insights into how artificial light affects insect flight. The experiments revealed that insects exhibit abnormal flight behavior when flying near a point light source, such as orbiting, stalling, and inverting. They also consistently tilted their dorsal axes towards the light source, even if it caused them to crash. These findings suggest that artificial light disrupts insects’ ability to determine their orientation and may contribute to light entrapment. Interestingly, when artificial light was diffused in the same plane as the night sky, insects exhibited normal flight behavior. This research sheds light on the sensory requirements for insect flight control and the potential impact of artificial light on insect populations. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the complexities of this interaction.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-44785-3