Moths, bright lights, that whole connection there, Ted.

slipss

I think biology is the right forum for this.

Why are moths so attracted to bright lights like light bulbs and flames? I mean they are mainly nocturnal right, so why do they have this over whelming compulsion to fly into really bright lights? Whats the deal there? Thanks.

Froot

The same reason people fly into bright lights.

Jimoslimos

Not sure if there is any entomologists here to correct me, but I believe it has something to do with navigation from a fixed point (usually the moon). The moths aren't actually flying into the light but becoming disorientated because their relative position to the light is changing much quicker than say the moon.

Wouldn't be 100% certain on the above and there's a lot of other plausible theories flying (forgive the pun) about aswell.

John

I think you're right Jimoslimos. They have evolved to recognise bright light in sky as moon and navigate by it. With many bright lights it confuses them and they fly into it trying to correct their course.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Richard Dawkins compared the odd behaviour of them flying into candles with people being religious. As mentioned, they evolved to navigate by the light of the moon but there was no man made lights around when they evolved.
If you know someone with "The God Delusion" he explains why they do it very well

Capt'n Midnight

If you fly with the moon to your right you will fly in a straight line.

If you fly with a light to your right you will either spiral out or spiral in depending on the angle you take to the light. Also moths don't expect the moon to get bigger.