That means less heat is emitted by compact flourescent lightbulbs. This type of bulb creates more illumination but at a lower wattage. That’s why today most yellow bug lights are CFLs. High wattage bulbs and lights that use glowing filaments (halogen and incandescent) will provide a warm welcome for bugs even if they put off a yellow light. The more heat and brightness a light puts off the more bugs it will attract. There are two other factors that will affect how attractive light is to night-flying insects – heat and brightness. Other yellow-tinted light bulb options that go unnoticed by insects include sodium vapor and halogen bulbs. CFLs offer the best energy efficiency and emit less heat. Yellow is the point where the wavelengths start getting longer. The best option is going to be a yellow compact fluorescent light (CFL). In recent years they’ve started making specially colored bulbs that are specifically designed for outdoor use so you can get decent illumination while attracting fewer bugs. Lighting manufacturers have caught on to insect eyesight anatomy. Red, which is at the far end of the spectrum, is actually completely invisible to insects. Looking at a light spectrum chart you’ll notice that warmer colors like red, orange and yellow have the lowest/longest wavelengths. In general, the longer/lower the wavelength is the less likely a bug is to see the associated color. Insects, like humans, can’t detect the entire spectrum of light. Different colors are seen at different wavelengths, which are measured in nanometers. The light spectrum includes a variety of colors. The bugs with trichromatic eyesight can see more colors. Insects with bichromatic eyesight have two types of color receptors whereas trichromatic eyesight have three color receptors. Adult insects have either bichromatic or trichromatic eyesight. However, adult insect sight is a little more complex. Adult insects on the other hand have compound eyes that go beyond light and dark. Larvae have simple eyes that can only differentiate between dark and light. If you can’t dissuade bugs from being attracted to light, the best thing homeowners can do is use lighting that insects can’t see. Entomologists aren’t sure why many insects have a positive phototaxis, but it’s clear that they do. Some insects can resist the urge, but others (moths and flies) simply can’t help themselves. It’s a natural instinct for them to move towards the light and hover around it. Many flying insects are the exact opposite: they have a positive phototaxis. Nocturnal insects, like cockroaches and earthworms, have a negative phototaxis. Positive phototaxis means that an animal is attracted to light, and negative phototaxis makes an animal move away from light. Phototaxis is the scientific term for how an organism’s body reacts to light. Some bugs are attracted to lights while others are repelled by it. Let’s find out! Why Some Bugs Are Attracted to Light But which light bulb is the best at deterring burglars and bugs? That’s right, simply changing the bulb could keep bugs from buzzing around your door at night. Since leaving the porch lights on is recommended for home security, the best solution isn’t always to switch the light off. You can take steps to prevent insect infestations, but there’s one thing many homeowners do that actually directs pests right to the front door: if you leave the front porch light on at night it’s like a beacon for bugs.

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