My Yellow Bug Light Actually Works!
As part of the switch to using as many Compact Fluorescent Lights as possible, I bought a yellow CFL bug light for the front porch. I was not optimistic about it’s effectiveness as the yellow incandescent we have used in the past do not seem to deter the bugs at all. Well, this one works!
With the exception of a couple of moths, which can be seen in the pictures, there have been no bugs around the light since I installed it a few weeks ago. With the yellow incandescent, the bugs came by the hundreds, followed by all the spiders with their webs, trying to catch dinner. Then the webs caught all the dirt etc. blowing in the wind and very shortly the front entry way was a mess! The area around the light is so much cleaner now. I don’t know if CFL bulbs in general are less attractive to bugs or if there is another reason for it working so well, but I recommend everyone try it out if they want a more bug free front porch.
The only drawback to this particular CFL is that it really does take a few minutes to reach peak intensity. It comes on right away at about 1/2 strength, and then gradually builds to full power. On the porch, this is OK as it is not the same need as walking into a dark room and wanting immediate full light.
Choose from box
The bugs are starting to return. I am going to look into getting a yellow CFL bug light for the front porch. I always have lots of bugs and spiders around the front porch light in the Spring and Summer.
Comment by chaosgone — February 25, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Welcome back chaosgone. That video on your site of the three year old describing Star Wars is the cutest thing I have seen in a while!
Comment by Will — February 25, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
I believe there must be other factors that would explain any stated perception that a yellow fluorescent bulb attracted less bugs than a yellow incandescent bulb did. It’s just not possible for it to be true. Used properly, the reason yellow light bulbs reduce the attraction of bugs is because they radiate less blue spectrum light and as such, the bugs just dont see it as well as they see ordinary white bulbs. And, it is a fact that fluorescent lights radiate more blue spectrum light than incandescent lights. Therefore, bugs are more attracted to fluorescent bulbs than they are to incandescent. Sorry to but in here, but misinformation just BUGS me.
This explanation from GE:
The human visual system is activated by radiant energy in the color range from deep blue to dark red, which we call light. The vision of flying insects, however, is shifted away from long-wavelength red toward the shorter blue and near ultraviolet (black light) wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Sources which radiate ultraviolet energy and blue light are most attractive to flying insects, while those with a deficiency of ultraviolet and blue are less attractive. Insects see black light fluorescent, mercury, and metal halide best. Lamps which insects have a difficult time seeing include incandescent, high-pressure sodium, and bug light incandescent (yellow).
Comment by Joe Deasy — May 16, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Hi Joe - After this long length of time, the difference between the two still seems apparent. The CFL yellow light does look more yellow that the incandescent. Maybe that is the difference.
Comment by Will — May 16, 2008 @ 2:51 pm