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Why flying insects gather at artificial light

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel T. Fabian

    (Imperial College London)

  • Yash Sondhi

    (Florida International University
    University of Florida)

  • Pablo E. Allen

    (Council on International Educational Exchange)

  • Jamie C. Theobald

    (Florida International University)

  • Huai-Ti Lin

    (Imperial College London)

Abstract

Explanations of why nocturnal insects fly erratically around fires and lamps have included theories of “lunar navigation” and “escape to the light”. However, without three-dimensional flight data to test them rigorously, the cause for this odd behaviour has remained unsolved. We employed high-resolution motion capture in the laboratory and stereo-videography in the field to reconstruct the 3D kinematics of insect flights around artificial lights. Contrary to the expectation of attraction, insects do not steer directly toward the light. Instead, insects turn their dorsum toward the light, generating flight bouts perpendicular to the source. Under natural sky light, tilting the dorsum towards the brightest visual hemisphere helps maintain proper flight attitude and control. Near artificial sources, however, this highly conserved dorsal-light-response can produce continuous steering around the light and trap an insect. Our guidance model demonstrates that this dorsal tilting is sufficient to create the seemingly erratic flight paths of insects near lights and is the most plausible model for why flying insects gather at artificial lights.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel T. Fabian & Yash Sondhi & Pablo E. Allen & Jamie C. Theobald & Huai-Ti Lin, 2024. "Why flying insects gather at artificial light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44785-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44785-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matteo Mischiati & Huai-Ti Lin & Paul Herold & Elliot Imler & Robert Olberg & Anthony Leonardo, 2015. "Internal models direct dragonfly interception steering," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 333-338, January.
    2. Azusa Kamikouchi & Hidehiko K. Inagaki & Thomas Effertz & Oliver Hendrich & André Fiala & Martin C. Göpfert & Kei Ito, 2009. "The neural basis of Drosophila gravity-sensing and hearing," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7235), pages 165-171, March.
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