Why do Moths Fly To Light?

Jungletour at aol.com Jungletour at aol.com
Wed Jul 16 05:11:41 EDT 1997


gslsdog at aol.com writes:

[[Why do moths fly toward the light at night?]]

[[How could this behavior have evolved during the time when there were no]]
[[lights at night, before humans had come along with fire and light bulbs?]]

They may be attracted to the moon. It seems like it would be easy to place
several malaise traps in different directions and see if the one leading to a
full moon attracts more moths.The moon also creates competition for man made
lights as moth activity is much less around lights when the moon is full. It
appears that albacore tuna fish may also be attracted to the moon as the
fishermen catch the most fish when the moon is full. The fish swim deep when
the moon is absent. 

Jim Hanlon



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