What Flies Are Attracted to Light?
WouterLight is an important part of insect life. It guides them and gives them a sense of direction. Moths, for example, fly north based on the light coming from a natural source. These light sources need to be consistent and at a distance from the insect. This is why an incandescent porch light will confuse moths, who will circle the source of light.
Light also attracts adult flies. They will fly to bright lights because they think they are a beacon. These insects are highly sensitive to light, and their multi-lens eyesight makes it very difficult to adjust to the dark. If the light is too bright for them, they may become night-blind and unable to see. To prevent these nuisance flies, make sure to remove fresh animal feces right away. You can also use plastic bags to seal the waste. You should then place the sealed bagged waste in a trash can with a lid.
The distance to which flies are attracted to light has varied greatly in different studies. Anopheles mosquitoes and Lutzomyia sand flies were attracted to light at up to 6 meters. The results for Culicoides midges have been more mixed. In one study, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) UV-light trap attracted midges at a distance of 15 m. Other studies, such as those done by Onderstepoort, reported attraction ranges of one to 30 metres.
