Why Are Flies Attracted to Light?
WouterUnderstanding why flies are attracted to light is important for the development of more effective fly killers. This knowledge will help us develop more effective products to eradicate flies, and it will also help prevent outbreaks of fly-borne diseases. In the food industry, extensive research has been done to improve the efficiency of fly control methods.
The bright light attracts adult flies, which will find the brightest source of light to fly to. It may also serve as a beacon to attract other flies. Adult flies’ eyes are complex, with multiple lenses, and they struggle to adjust to darkness. This can lead to night-blindness. To avoid attracting these flies, it is important to eliminate waste immediately. In addition, you can place feces in a plastic bag and store it in a lidded trash can.
It is important to note that while humans have a very high visual resolution, flies have lower sensitivity to certain wavelengths. In addition, insects need a neural framework to compare the outputs of two photoreceptors. Interestingly, flies have two photoreceptors, Dm8 and R7, which make them prefer green light over ultraviolet.
While this finding is intriguing, more studies are necessary to confirm the findings and obtain more data. Moreover, a comprehensive list of attractive wavelengths for each species is desirable so that surveys can be carried out for specific taxa. Most studies focused on North America and Europe, but there have been few such studies in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. However, in these regions, the burden of vector-borne diseases is high and light trapping can be an effective surveillance tool.
