Insects are drawn to light, which doesn’t require a pest control expert to know. But why are flies attracted to lights? An efficient fly killer unit and LED technology can capture and get rid of more flies than other types of fly traps. More information about flies and lights is available in this article.
Are Flies Attracted To Light
Adult flies are drawn to bright lights and will search for those in the area that is the brightest, which explains why they enjoy making a lot of noise near windows.
Although the cause is unclear, it is hypothesized that the light acts as a safety beacon. Due to the multiple lenses in a bug‘s eyes, it may be difficult for them to adjust from light to dark, leaving them night-blind.
Why Are Flies Attracted To Lights
The reason flies are drawn to light is not explained by a single scientific theory. There are several theories that provide a potential explanation, as listed below:
Using Light For Safety
A strong light source might serve as an emergency beacon for some insects. When in doubt, these insects instinctively move toward light sources, which are frequently located higher up than the potentially dangerous environment they are currently in.
Similar to how air bubbles pointing toward the water’s surface might be helpful for other creatures, light can serve as a familiar safety signal for some insects.
Using Light For Navigation
Another widely accepted explanation for why people are drawn to light is that it serves as a navigational tool for insects. Keeping a natural light source, like the sun or moon, to its right allows an insect flying toward the north to determine its direction.
As long as the light source is steady and far away, this technique is effective.
However, an insect that comes into contact with a round incandescent porch light is confused by its source. This explains the odd behavior of a moth that continuously circles a light source because it naturally prefers to keep the light on one side of its body while traveling.
Phototaxis An Attraction To Light
The difference between insects that are attracted to light and those which are not is a phenomenon known as phototaxis. Some insects, like cockroaches and earthworms, have negative phototaxis, which means that exposure to light repels them.
Moths, flies, and numerous other flying insects are attracted to it naturally because it has positive phototaxis.
Read: Do Led Lights Attract Spiders?
Why Are Flies Attracted To Led
For a number of years, homeowners have been persuaded that LED lights are a wiser, more energy-efficient choice for lighting their homes.
Additionally, LED technology emits light in a different way and generates UV-A as powerful beams of light that travel farther into the surrounding space than, say, light phosphor lamps.
Specifically, house flies are drawn to UV light, which is invisible to humans, and can see it. UV light isn’t used in our environments or buildings because we can’t see it.
Because of this, UV light traps are extremely effective because any UV light used in urban buildings lights up like a beacon: they stand out in the human environment as the brightest source of UV-A light.
What Else Attracts Flies
- Any recent, moist animal waste Remove your dog’s waste from the area right away, either by burying it or by scooping it up with a pooper scooper and sealing it in a plastic bag to prevent flies from breeding in it. Place the bagged waste in a lidded garbage can.
- Organic waste, including food scraps: The less moisture present, the less food will be wasted. Before discarding food, try to remove as much moisture as you can. Make sure to secure trash bags with ties.
- Dumpsters and trash containers: Keep the lids on your trash cans tightly closed, and check to see if there are any holes in the containers. The can should be sealed with a bag over all of the trash inside.
- Outdoor vegetation: Pick up any fallen fruit from any fruit trees you have in your yard. Fruit that is fermenting or that is too ripe is the ideal combination of moist and sweet to draw flies.
- Indoor plants: Cut back any dying plant material and throw it away. The larvae of fungus gnats eat plant matter that has decomposed and fungi that grow in moist soils.
How To Get Rid Of Flies Around Lights
Flying ants: Just crush or pick off the lone ant you see wandering around your house because they don’t typically swarm indoors. Spray them with insecticide and contact pest control if you come across a swarm of them.
Flying termites: They swarm beneath fluorescent lights in your home and streetlights because they are incredibly attracted to light.
- Buy a bug zapper, then hang it outside your window.
- Hold a pail of water about 10 cm away from the swarm that is gathered near a source of light. The termites should be drawn to the water’s bright reflection, which will drown them. Alternately, you could put it on the ground near the light; just be sure to keep it out of the reach of kids and pets.
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part dishwashing soap to make a natural insect repellent. Why use soap? It helps suffocate insects by covering their spiracles, which are their skin-surface breathing holes, and in some instances, it can pierce some insects’ waxy protective membranes. Just be certain to remove the solution after by wiping.
How To Prevent Flies Around Lights
- Close your windows as much as you can after a rainy day to keep the rain out of the house.
- Get magnetically attached mesh insect screens for window frames for added security. If they’re finding a way under your door, invest in an under-door seal (widely available online) to keep them out.
- Lighting up the area near the window should be avoided. To make the bright light less noticeable, you could draw the curtains.