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Do Flies Like Dark or Light?

Published in Entomology 1 min read

Flies are generally attracted to light.

Flies exhibit a behavior called positive phototaxis, meaning they are naturally drawn toward light sources. This attraction explains why you often see flies buzzing around light fixtures, especially at night.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Positive Phototaxis: This is the scientific term for the attraction to light. It's a fundamental aspect of fly behavior.

  • Why are they attracted to light? The exact reasons are still being researched, but possible explanations include using light for navigation and orientation.

  • Practical Implications: Because flies are drawn to light, minimizing outdoor lighting at night can help reduce the number of flies that enter your home.

In summary, flies prefer light to darkness, due to their positive phototactic nature. This explains their common presence around lamps and other artificial light sources.

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