Why Are Bees Attracted to Porch Lights Without Hives?

Bees typically use the sun to point them in the right direction in their daily ventures in search of flowers. They can also be drawn to porch lights along the way, in their effort to find food.

  1. Bee Facts

    • There are up to 20,000 bee species. Bees have hairy bodies and a set of four wings, along with a potent stinger. They are typically .08 inches to 1.6 inches in length. They are a necessary species because they provide the pollination for many crops, along with their ability to manufacture honey. They live in hives that can have around 20,000 bees on average per hive.

    Phototaxis

    • The term positive phototaxis is used when describing bugs that are drawn to lights. Bees are in this category, as well as flies and moths. It is necessary for them to use light sources as an aid in calculating their direction. The light from the moon and the sun are utilized as their navigational resources. The opposite end of the spectrum is called negative phototaxis and refers to insects, such as cockroaches, who avoid light.

    Porch Light Desirability

    • There are several possibilities as to why bees are drawn to porch lights. After bees have finished their feeding ritual, they begin traveling back to their hive. They can, however, stumble upon a porch light which creates some directional confusion for them. The phototaxis response kicks in and their natural routine is disrupted. They find themselves swarming around the light.

    Explanation

    • Being drawn to porch lights may be a bee's form of self-defense. It could be that the bees may not have the capacity to adapt to the darkness of the night after being surrounded by the porch light. They become, in effect, trapped by the light.

    Preventative Measure

    • It is hard for bees to distinguish between the light of the moon and light bulbs. There are, however, some yellow lights that are made now that don't attract bees or other insects.