Why do moths go crazy for light? Had a bit of plague of them the last couple nights and the windows have been nearly covered in them.

Ugh, I am phobic about moths and flying insects in general. I keep my windows closed during summer evenings, no matter how warm it becomes.

I take some delight in turning on the outside light, seeing them all flock to it and then turning it off. You can almost hear the mothy cries of "what the ... " Sad really.

You are evil.

Many years ago when I was first married we lived in a house with a sloping flat roof, it used to get warmer and warmer during the evening and if we opened a window I used to have to go to bed, I would freak out if I had to be in the same room as a flying moth. It stems back to when I was a teenager and a horrid great big brown moth sat on my shoulder and when I turned my head, aaaagh! I have been phobic since then, flying ants will get me in a dreadful state, and daddy longlegs, I shudder to think of them.

Moths navigate by the moon in some way (obviously not by heading for it directly) and since artificial lights have not evolved to filter out which is the real one. So assuming your outside light is the moon, or whichever is nearest to them, instead of carrying on flying in the rough direction of a distant object, the object is right on their horizon and they assume they are still flying in a straight line as they are only moths...

technical explanation

>>>>> assume they are still flying in a straight line as they are only moths...

hehe

THe whole navigational thing by the moon is pretty interesting really Thanks Sats.

Is it similar to why Copago is attracted to white Toblerone only? Is there a reason for that?

only because it's the absolute best stuff EVER!

Could it be that vision, much like a moonlit pyramid near the Nile that attracts our Jilly to this chocolate?

Vision? Who needs vision? Only need to follow my nose.

Reminds me of the man who went to the doctor's and said, "I think I'm a moth". The doctor said, "Come back tomorrow, it's late and the surgery is closed". The man said, "I know but the light was on".

Moths navigate by the moon in some way (satguru).

I wonder where they are trying to get to, or are they flying at the Moon but get afraid of heights above a certain number of feet? If the night is cloudy and they are away from any other source of light, how do they pass the time?

This subject raises more questions than answers

Thanks for the giggle, I needed it!

Likewise

*groan to the pair of you*

(awww, missed you Tellies!)

Okay - I'll change that to:

Awww, missed wanting to throw various objects at you, Tellies!

Quote:

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missed wanting to throw various objects at you

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You would probably miss...

If you were standing next to Tellies, then I would make sure to miss him ...

If this doesn't want to make you throw something, nothing will

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I was watching TV in bed one night
when a moth came in for a round-the-room flight.

It finally made for the TV screen
where its silhouette could be easily seen.

The pesky moth made an annoying sound
as it flapped its little wings around.

It flew about all over the place,
then came to rest on the newsreader's face.

It fluttered all over the weather map,
the delicate wings going tap tap tap.

It stayed around for the adverts too
and seemed quite interested in a few.

I got out of bed and went for the moth
(the little fellow had incurred my wrath)

It fell like a stone down to the floor,
the little moth was a moth no more.

It lay there motionless on its belly
no longer interested in my telly.

Amen.

Well ...this didn't happen really. It's just a rhyme I made up. I'm actually very kind to moths.

Especially tigermoths.

Lovely little ditty, consider yourself honoured Jillian.

LOL LOL ... Can't believe I missed this!

*dutifully throws stuff at Tellies*