Explore the latest research to discover why moths are attracted to light, and find out how to bring more moths to your yard at night.
Moth Mystery Solved: Why Are Moths Attracted to Light?
Published on Apr. 30, 2025
We’ve all heard the common expression “drawn like a moth to a flame,” and seen these nighttime fliers circling round artificial light sources. But what causes this behavior? Is it harmful to moths? Here’s what we know about why moths are attracted to light.
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Do Moths Think Artificial Lights Are the Moon?
Most (though not all) moths are nocturnal, flying at dusk, dawn, or throughout the night. They have evolved over millennia to take advantage of these darker hours, seeking out night-blooming plants for nectar or visiting trees for sap and fruit juice. Since most of these creatures are active at night, it’s no surprise that the moon plays a big part in their lives.
Plant fragrant moonflower to attract moths.
For many years, scientists have theorized that moths confuse artificial lights for the moon, which they use for orientation or navigation. But since moths don’t fly directly toward the moon in even the darkest conditions, this theory doesn’t fully explain why moths are attracted to lights. To understand this phenomenon, scientists needed to know more about how moths use light.
How Do Moths Use Light When They Fly?
A 2024 research study took a close look at how moths interact with light. “The authors discovered that there is something called dorsal-light-response, in which insects try to orient the bottom of their bodies toward the ground when flying,” says University of Florida professor Dr. Akito Y. Kawahara.
As the research study notes: “Throughout the long evolutionary history of insect flight, the brightest part of the visual field has been the sky, and thus it is a robust indicator of which way is up.” In other words, by keeping a bright light source at their backs, moths are able to orient themselves and navigate, even in low-light conditions.
Meet the sphinx moths, stars of the evening garden.
Why Do Moths Fly in Circles Around Artificial Lights?
Anyone who’s seen moths or other insects flitting around a streetlight or front porch light at night knows these creatures seem to be pretty confused. Unlike a broad moonlit sky high above, artificial lights are focused and radiate in all directions. Insects like moths try to orient their top sides toward that light. They end up flying in dizzying circles, unable to break free.
The research scientists concluded, “We found that at short ranges most insects do not fly directly to a light source, but orthogonally [at right angles] to it … a nearby artificial light source shifts an insect’s sense of vertical orientation, disrupting its ability to maintain forward flight.”
Are All Moths Attracted to Light?
“Not all moths are attracted to light,” Dr. Kawahara clarifies. “Some species are known not to come to lights, or in some cases one sex will come to the light and the other sex does not.” For example, in the 2024 study, oleander hawk moths (Daphnis nerii) seemed to ignore artificial light sources.
Scientists have also found that many species of moth are more attracted to light in the UV range of the light spectrum. These are lights that appear whitish-blue or whitish-violet to human eyes. “This has to do with photoreceptors in their compound eyes, which are tuned for different wavelengths of light,” explains Dr. Kawahara. “So some moths are attracted to a certain wavelength while others are not.”
How to Use Light to Attract Moths for Up-Close Viewing
Because many moths are attracted to light sources, you can use so-called “light traps” to bring these fascinating insects right to you to take a closer look. Hang a white sheet in your yard and shine a very bright light onto it. Use lights in the UV range, such as cool-toned LED bulbs or black lights. Moths attracted by the bright light may fly around for a while, but eventually many of them will land on the sheet. (Don’t be surprised when lots of other night insects show up too!)
While it’s perfectly safe to use light traps to bring in moths and other nocturnal insects, it’s important to follow one simple rule when you’re finished. “Turn off the light at the end of the night,” cautions Dr. Kawahara. “Otherwise, in the morning the moths will sit there and birds and other predators will come and eat them.” Don’t let your moth light trap become a danger to these fascinating fliers.
About the Expert
Dr. Akito Y. Kawahara is a professor and curator at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the University of Florida. His research focuses mainly on how moths have evolved behaviors that allow them to escape predators like bats.
