The Independent

Researchers reveal why insects are attracted to lights

Researchers may have solved the mystery of why flying insects are attracted to lights at night, appearing to move strangely around the source.

A new study suggests the behaviour is due to insects mistaking the light for the direction of “up”.

The findings indicate that artificial light causes erratic flight, and makes the creatures continually correct their flight path, resulting in insect vertigo and producing what we see as an attraction

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