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Do LED strip lights attract bugs? This is a question that many homeowners are asking these days. With the popularity of LED strip lights growing, more and more people are installing them in their homes. But some people are concerned that the lights might attract bugs. In this blog post, we will explore whether or not LED strip lights attract bugs and what can be done to prevent this from happening.
Table of Contents
- A Popular Way to Light Up Your Home, but Do LED Strip Lights Attract Bugs?
- Why Are Bugs Attracted To Light?
- What Type of Light are Bugs Most Attracted to?
- Are LEDs Worse Than Other Lights for Attracting Bugs?
- How to Prevent LED Strip Lights From Attracting Bugs
- Keep Your Light Fixtures Clean and Free of Dust and Cobwebs
- Use a Bug Zapper or Mosquito Repellent Near Your Light Fixtures
- Install a Fan to Help Circulate the Air and Keep the Area Around Your Light Fixtures Cool
- Final Thoughts on LED Strip Lights and Bugs
A Popular Way to Light Up Your Home, but Do LED Strip Lights Attract Bugs?
LED strip lights have been exploding in popularity with TikTok stars showing off their LED strip laden bedrooms and garages. But as the popularity of these lights grow, some people are beginning to wonder if they attract bugs. Do LED strip lights bring in unwanted guests like spiders and ants?
The answer is a little bit complicated. It depends on the type of LED strip light that you are using and where you are installing it. Some LED strips emit many different colors of light from the invisible to the human eye ultraviolet range all the way up to infrared. If your LED strip light is outside and you are using a strip with a low ultraviolet output, then you may be attracting bugs. If your LED strip light is emitting a lot of heat, you may also be attracting bugs.
Why Are Bugs Attracted To Light?
Before we get into the specifics of LED strip lights and bugs’ potentially affinity for them let’s break down why bugs are attracted to lights in general. It has to do with their natural navigation system.
Bugs navigate by following light sources. They use the moon and stars as a guide when it is dark, but during the day they use light to orient themselves. This is why you will see bugs flying around your porch light or streetlights at night. The more intense the light source, the more bugs you will have basing their navigation bearings on it.
Bugs have eyes specifically for picking up the moon (and other lights unfortunately). Evolution has taught them to keep the moon at a certain angle in relation to them so that they know which direction they are traveling. If you know anything about Honey Bees, you’ll know that it’s quite impressive how bugs can navigate long distances very well.
When a bug gets a light confused for a moon, it will attempt to keep that light at a certain angle from them in order to travel the direction they want. However, as we know that light is indeed not the moon. This is the main reason why you see bugs flying in circles around lights.
What Type of Light are Bugs Most Attracted to?
There are two main factors that come into play for lights that attract bugs: color and heat.
Bugs are attracted to certain colors of light more than others. Blue, white, and green lights tend to attract the most bugs because they are closest to the wavelengths that bugs are most adept at seeing. In the spectrum of colors ranging from 300 to 650 nanometers, including UV light, most insects can see.. This is why you will often see bug zappers with blue lights. Red and yellow lights, on the other hand, have no significant impact.
Heat also plays a role in attracting bugs. Bugs, like most other living beings need to stay warm and within a certain temperature range to survive. The warmer the light, the more bugs will be drawn to it. This is why you often see bugs near streetlights and other sources of heat.
Are LEDs Worse Than Other Lights for Attracting Bugs?
Comparing LED strip lights to traditional light bulbs, LEDs are better than the rest when it comes to attracting bugs. LED lights are much more efficient than halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, and all other types of lights. This means they are better at converting electricity into light.
Because of their increased efficiency, they tend to put out a lot less heat. For example, the normal voltage requirements for a traditional bulb starts around 40-50 volts. Whereas LED lights typically run at 10 volts or less. But, if you’ve seen an LED light you’ve noticed that the light they emit is usually much brighter. So, the ability to use less electricity but still put out more light contributes to less heat.
In addition to decreased heat, LED lights usually have a wider spectrum of light. However, unless you are buying an ultraviolet LED, you won’t be attracting more bugs than a traditional light source. Don’t forget, LED strip lights come with the functionality of changing colors. So, if you really want to be on the safe side you can keep within the white, yellow, red color ranges.
How to Prevent LED Strip Lights From Attracting Bugs
Keep Your Light Fixtures Clean and Free of Dust and Cobwebs
When it comes to keeping bugs away from your LED strip lights, the easiest way is to keep your light fixtures clean and free of dust and cobwebs. If there is no food for bugs to eat, they will be less likely to congregate around your lights.
If you are installing your LED strip lights outside, make sure that you install them in a place that is easy to maintain. Attaching them to the overhang of your roof or under the eaves will not be ideal because you will have a difficult time keeping them clean.
Use a Bug Zapper or Mosquito Repellent Near Your Light Fixtures
If your LED strip lights are outside you may consider using a bug zapper or mosquito repellent near your light fixtures. This will help keep the bugs away from your lights and make sure that they are not attracted to them.
Install a Fan to Help Circulate the Air and Keep the Area Around Your Light Fixtures Cool
Whether you have LED strip lights installed inside or outside, you can install a fan to help circulate the air and keep the area around your light fixtures cool. This will further deter bugs from congregating near your lights.
Final Thoughts on LED Strip Lights and Bugs
Overall, LED strip lights are not as bad for attracting bugs as other types of light bulbs. However, there are some things that you can do to keep pests away regardless.
Remember that the 2 most important factors with all lights and attracting bugs are color and heat. Blue and green lights are the colors that bugs are most attracted to. Bugs can see ultraviolet light waves best. Bugs are also very attracted to heat.
If you are really concerned about bugs being drawn to your lights, try using a bug zapper or mosquito repellent near your light fixtures. And always keep your light fixtures clean and free of dust and cobwebs. By following these tips, you can enjoy your LED strip lights without having to worry about pesky bugs.
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FAQs
Do LED lights attract bugs inside? ›
LED lights do not attract bugs the way incandescent lights do. But they do help make bug lights more efficient. The LED options are also quieter than traditional bug zappers. If bug zappers aren't an option for you, color lighting is an alternative.
What LED lights dont attract bugs? ›What color LED lights do not attract bugs? Bugs can see Ultraviolet (UV), blue and green. That is why they are attracted to white or bluish lights such as mercury vapor, white incandescent, and white fluorescent. On the other hand, yellowish, pinkish, or orange are the least attractive to the bugs.
Do LED strip lights attract mosquitoes? ›LED lights do not attract bugs because they don't produce ultraviolet light.
Does the adhesive on LED light strips attract bugs? ›Do LED strip lights attract bugs? They can. Insects can see mostly Green, Blue and Ultraviolet. The only lights that don't really attract bugs (as much) would be Yellow, Red and Orange sources of light.
Can LED strip lights bring bugs? ›Because LED lights are cooler than other types of lightbulbs (meaning they don't get as warm), bugs aren't as attracted to them in general.
What color LED keeps bugs away? ›Yellowish, pinkish, or orange (sodium vapor, halogen, dichroic yellow) are the least attractive to most insects. When white incandescent bulbs were all that was available, the advice was to change them to yellow incandescent bug bulbs.
What is the best light to not attract bugs? ›The best option is going to be a yellow compact fluorescent light (CFL). Yellow is the point where the wavelengths start getting longer. CFLs offer the best energy efficiency and emit less heat. Other yellow-tinted light bulb options that go unnoticed by insects include sodium vapor and halogen bulbs.
Do LED lights attract bugs and spiders? ›White and blue LED lights attract the most amount of bugs, with ultraviolet and green LED lights also attracting bugs. Red LED lights are the least appealing to bugs—but unfortunately can be less useful for human use.
Do LED lights attract mosquitoes and bugs? ›Mosquitoes are not attracted to ultraviolet or LED light any more than they are to normal lights. LEDs in particular put off less warmth than other bulbs, making them even less attractive.
Do bugs stay away from LED lights? ›They collected insects in custom-made traps, and found that the worst option for outdoor lighting was traditional incandescent bulbs, which attracted the most bugs. LEDs on the other hand—both “cool‐white” and “warm‐white”—were the least attractive to insects. Yellow-hued light bulbs are worth trying, too.
Are there lights that don't attract bugs? ›
LED lights are optimal: LEDs are an energy efficient alternative to lighting that is about 90% more efficient than a traditional light bulb. As a result, they also tend to put off less bug-attracting heat. Railing lighting systems often use LEDs, and there are various types to choose from.
Are roaches attracted to LED light? ›Cockroach Behavior
Almost all cockroaches are nocturnal, which means they're active only at night. So are cockroaches attracted to light? Nope.
However, yellow-coated bulbs aren't the only lights that can reduce the presence of bugs. LED lights that emit warm-colored illumination, such as yellow strip lights, yellow malibu light bulbs for landscape applications, or gold-tint filament bulbs, are great for creating an area that is less likely to attract bugs.
What color do bugs hate? ›Bugs are naturally attracted to bright colors like white, yellow or orange. Colors like green and blue won't register as vividly when seen in the UV spectrum, deterring bugs away from these colored objects.
What color LED lights do spiders hate? ›The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don't just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic. Painting your porch ceiling in this shade is a pretty effective way of keeping spiders away. The color is also known to repel wasps.
What lights do not attract bugs? ›LED lights are optimal: LEDs are an energy efficient alternative to lighting that is about 90% more efficient than a traditional light bulb. As a result, they also tend to put off less bug-attracting heat. Railing lighting systems often use LEDs, and there are various types to choose from.
Is it true that LED lights attract spiders? ›Yes. Although spider do not like light, they are attracted by them because those lamps attract other bugs.
What color LED lights attract spiders? ›They can see green and ultraviolet light. Green is their favorite color because they're most sensitive to light in the green wavelength. As a result, wearing green or having lots of green items around your home will attract more spiders.
Do bugs like LED lights? ›LED bulbs are less attractive to bugs because they produce low heat and long wavelengths of light. Moreover, they produce little or no ultraviolet radiation. It makes them perfect for outdoor lights for events and around the home.
Do bugs not like LED lights? ›They collected insects in custom-made traps, and found that the worst option for outdoor lighting was traditional incandescent bulbs, which attracted the most bugs. LEDs on the other hand—both “cool‐white” and “warm‐white”—were the least attractive to insects.
Do spiders hate LED lights? ›
Spiders tend to hide out in dark spaces and are not fans of bright light. Install LED lights outside your home to ward spiders away, and in your home to eliminate dark corners for spiders to set up camp! Install indoor and outdoor LED lights in your home this fall with Sitler's!
Do LED strips use a lot of electricity? ›Installed as your light source, LED strip lights guzzle less electricity to produce the same light output. The potential savings are very significant – LEDs draw up to 85% less electricity than conventional incandescent lighting, and around 18% less electricity than CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps).
Do LED lights cause silverfish? ›The short answer is no, LED lights do not attract silverfish any more than other types of light. Silverfish like dark areas and so do not like light of any type. Silverfish aren't attracted to light because they are looking for food.