Outside Light question
- Thread starter Franklin
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Because they can't see in the dark. Neither can I.
WuzzFuzz
WuzzFuzz
Enter the light! All are welcome!
carpriver
US Veteran
makes human more visible.
kthom
Member
I dunno, Franklin. I'd guess it's either the light or the heat created by the light. I'm old enough to remember the smell (I like it!) of a coal oil kerosene) lamp having lived a few years prior to the arrival of the REA to our part of the world. Even after they arrived, power outages were frequent and the lamps were always within arms reach to be lit by one of those great old big kitchen matches. My mom used to hate the "candle bugs" (miller bugs) that those old lamps attracted. Occasionally one would get zapped by the heat exiting the small opening of the clear glass narrow globe (chimney) of the lamp. It would many times fall into the chimney where it would smoke up the inside of it. That required a good cleaning of the chimney next morning, and my mom was not satisfied until there were zero streaks to reflect light inside or outside of that chimney. Cleaning three or four of those was a pretty good chore for her. I never could get it right so she quit making me do that job.
I still love those old lamps and remember how much brighter than a candle they were. Every light bulb on the farm would attract flying insects, especially those pesky miller bugs. I've seen them in large clouds around a bare light bulb on the east end of our dairy barn at night. Don't think they were finding anything to eat there! I guess you've heard the old saying that he was attracted to her like a moth to a flame! I'm bettin' it's the heat!!!
I still love those old lamps and remember how much brighter than a candle they were. Every light bulb on the farm would attract flying insects, especially those pesky miller bugs. I've seen them in large clouds around a bare light bulb on the east end of our dairy barn at night. Don't think they were finding anything to eat there! I guess you've heard the old saying that he was attracted to her like a moth to a flame! I'm bettin' it's the heat!!!
I remember when porch lights were yellow.
My front porch light and the lights on both sides of my garage door have yellow bulbs. I never use them since I had the power company put a street type light on the pole near my house. It lights up my entire front and side yard.
Honestly the only reason I had it installed was better sighting for those pesky night time armadillos.
I don’t think it’s the heat. Bugs are attracted to fluorescents, too.
I notice that if I get a fly in my house during the daytime, when it is kinda dark inside compared to outside, the fly — or bee, etc. — will buzz against the window, trying to get where it’s lighter.
I notice that if I get a fly in my house during the daytime, when it is kinda dark inside compared to outside, the fly — or bee, etc. — will buzz against the window, trying to get where it’s lighter.
Fishinfool
Member
Because they are afraid of the dark?
steveno
Member
your bugs were just a little lost and needed a light to find their way home again.
Alpo
Member
Elementary school science class taught that night-time bugs navigate by the moon (which is a white light), so if you have a white light outside they fly to it.
"Bug lights" are yellow, and don't attract them.
"Bug lights" are yellow, and don't attract them.
Mainsail
Member
We just bought a house in a neighborhood that used to have a home owners association. The story is that back in the 90s one of the families decided to raise chickens; disregarding the HOA rule against livestock. A neighbor complained to the HOA and the HOA ended up taking them to court. Long story short- the HOA went bankrupt and boom boom out went the lights. (BTW, the chicken family and the complaining family moved out around the same time as the bankruptcy)
So we have no streetlights. I probed the one on my property with the voltmeter but it's been turned off somewhere else.
When we bought the house the previous owner had 100 watt bulbs in the two garage sconces, and at least 60 watts in the porch light. This lit up the whole street around the house (corner lot of sorts). Being more frugal then they, I swapped the bulbs to some decorative 15w bulbs on the garage and a 20w for the porch. I call the garage lights "accent lights" because they are pretty much for looks. Between the two garage doors we added an LED motion-sensor light so if anyone approaches the house it gets very bright, but now I'm not paying the bill for lighting up the entire neighborhood or attracting bugs.
So we have no streetlights. I probed the one on my property with the voltmeter but it's been turned off somewhere else.
When we bought the house the previous owner had 100 watt bulbs in the two garage sconces, and at least 60 watts in the porch light. This lit up the whole street around the house (corner lot of sorts). Being more frugal then they, I swapped the bulbs to some decorative 15w bulbs on the garage and a 20w for the porch. I call the garage lights "accent lights" because they are pretty much for looks. Between the two garage doors we added an LED motion-sensor light so if anyone approaches the house it gets very bright, but now I'm not paying the bill for lighting up the entire neighborhood or attracting bugs.
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We’re in the south and the back of our great room is all windows.
If you have a light on in the room at night, bugs bombard the glass, think kamikaze. Gets pretty loud.
Just the tv on reduces it. The dog eats the dead bugs the next morning.
Pecked out on my iPhone.
If you have a light on in the room at night, bugs bombard the glass, think kamikaze. Gets pretty loud.
Just the tv on reduces it. The dog eats the dead bugs the next morning.
Pecked out on my iPhone.
And if I remember correctly, they worked at not attracting bugs.
Whenever we go camping, we hang a one candle lantern as a night light so we can see in case one of us needs to water the weeds. Generally, it lasts around 10 hours. It stays lit through wind and rain.
One night in the woods, the candle went out after a coupla hours. In the morning we found out why.
A moth had managed to get inside and snuffed the candle.
One night in the woods, the candle went out after a coupla hours. In the morning we found out why.
A moth had managed to get inside and snuffed the candle.
The problem is the choice of light bulb that is attracting insects.
According to Science Alert, the incandescent light bulbs pulled in the highest number of insects, followed by CFL, halogen globes, and cool-colored LEDs. The second best light was the 'bug light', and the winner, with the least amount of insects attracted, was the warm LED bulb.
According to Science Alert, the incandescent light bulbs pulled in the highest number of insects, followed by CFL, halogen globes, and cool-colored LEDs. The second best light was the 'bug light', and the winner, with the least amount of insects attracted, was the warm LED bulb.
More than likely that was a Dobson fly. They are the adult stage of a Helgramite. I worked in a power house at night with large open doors. We saw several of them. Their curved black horns are impressive.
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