Why is moth attracted to flame

Department of Agriculture entomologists in the s, is that the infrared light spectrum emitted by candle flames contains some of the exact same wavelengths of light given off by female moths' luminescent pheromones. BY Matt Soniak. On Second Thought Love Hurts Another explanation, proposed by U. The latter has, however, a clear meaning for cave-sheltering species like the Tissue Moth Triphosa dubitata , which actively flies towards deep dark patches among rocks.

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Science Coronavirus Coverage How antivirals may change the course of the pandemic. So basically, the male moths would think that the flame is a female and die trying to mate with the flame. However, moths are even more attracted to UV than infrared light so this theory would not adequately explain the attraction to light — UV light does not have the same frequency as moth pheromones. Since many moths feed on nectar during the night, perhaps they are attracted to light because it could reveal a meal?

Alas, moths use other ways to find food, such as detecting high levels of CO2 from the flower that can inform a moth about the presence of nectar in a flower. A final theory is that moths are confused because they actually want to reach the darkest point next to the light.

So, next to a bright light, the dark spot nearby looks even darker. Henry Hsiao published in that moths in his experiments did not spiral into or fly directly at a light source, but instead flew into the region next to the lamps. It could be that they see a darker area next to the lamp due to the high contrast and fly there to try to escape the light. Once they have reached a light, the moths might stay close to it for two reasons. Firstly, they may have tired themselves out and need to rest.

Secondly, the brightness of the light might spark them to respond as they do to sunlight, which is to hide or become inactive.