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Name: Deborah
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Question:
My son is asked a science question every week. This weeks question is "If moths are attracted to lights, why are they not attracted to the sun and try to fly to it?" The answer is needed by Friday 3/10. I'm baffled by this one! Unless the moth knows it's too far to fly?


Replies:
I read somewhere about this topic and it seems to be a product of the insects biological clock and the type of light involved. Sunlight has it's own recognizable signature. During the diurnal hours, the attention of the insect to the sunlight is generally ignored for one reason or another. However, after sunset, light in the dark is a different matter.

Steve Sample


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