BUGS, LIGHT
Why are bugs attracted to light?
GREEN GAUTHAM
Scientists haven't been able to pin down one simple straight explanation for this behaviour in bugs. They have, however, developed several theories that might provide some insight into why certain insects seem to be attracted to lights.
A phenomenon called phototaxis explains how organisms respond to light with motion. Insects, such as moths, that move toward lights are considered positively phototactic. Other insects, such as cockroaches, that move away from lights are considered negatively phototactic.
One of the most popular theories holds that positively phototactic insects are drawn to lights because they use them like a navigational guide. Unfortunately, when they encounter an artificial light, insects become confused very easily and mistake the artificial light as the Sun or the Moon.
Rather than keeping a constant angle with the Sun or the Moon, these insects instead begin to try to keep the artificial light at a constant angle resulting moving in circles. Other scientists believe some insects may mistake artificial lights for flowers. Some believe that they mistake it for a female looking for a mate. While this may sound quite bizarre, it was discovered that the infrared light spectrum given off by candle flames actually has a few common frequencies with the light given off by the pheromones of female moths.
S.P.S. JAIN, Greater Noida
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