Do LED Light Strips Attract Bugs? – Complete Guide

Do LED light strips attract bugs? If you live in a place with too many bugs flying around, you might be concerned with installing even one more type of light source. 

The answer is that even LED light strips attract a few bugs, but much less than other types of illumination.

Keep reading if you want to learn all the details behind the answer. We will also list the most common types of bugs that will occasionally wander around your LED strip lights.

Do LED Light Strips Attract Bugs?

Do LED strip lights attract bugs? LED light strips attract only a few bugs. It depends on their species and some factors we will mention below.

Still, LED lights are the sort of illumination less likely to attract common insects.

Thus, your LED strip lights will be a little bothered by six-footed and eight-footed visitors.

Understanding Phototaxis

Most insects are capable of phototaxis, although others move in the opposite direction depending on the light.

Positive phototaxis, in its simplest form, describes the behavior of some insects toward sources of artificial light. 

In contrast, insects that engage in negative phototaxis aggressively avoid the light source.

For example, many flying insects congregate at night under street lights, a classic example of positive phototaxis. 

On the other hand, common creatures like snails and watermeal bugs have negative phototaxis.

The Light’s Color Plays A Role

Ultraviolet, blue, and green light, all on the shorter end of the spectrum, are more easily detected by insects than red light (yellow, orange, and red).

Remember that most insects have trouble seeing light with a wavelength of 650 nanometers (yellow). 

Insects use UV and IR wavelengths for vision, navigation, and finding food. 

Bug lights are never foolproof since various insects are attracted to different temperatures and different wavelengths of light.

But they still work to control pests by reducing their exposure to light. 

Insects are drawn to the ultraviolet light emitted by bulbs, such as incandescents, CFLs, halogens, and HIDs. 

Certain insects use the sun’s and moon’s ultraviolet light as a navigational aid.

Thus, a nearby, stronger UV light source might throw off the insects’ sense of direction and draw them in. 

The Difference With LED Lights

Incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, and high-ntensity discharge bulbs release most of the energy they use as heat.

Thermal sensors in insects allow them to detect the light’s warmth. 

Bugs are less likely to congregate around LED strips because they produce so little heat.

Moreover, bugs can’t see as well with LED lighting since they create almost little UV light.

Yet it is still possible for LEDs to emit shorter wavelengths of light (blue-white/cool white), which are more appealing to insects. 

Therefore, when selecting LED strips, it’s best to go with those that produce more light at wavelengths over 550 nanometers, such as warm white, ultra-warm white, or yellow.

If you buy yellow LED strip lights, it is very unlikely you will see any bugs around them.

Which Bugs Are Attracted By LED Striplights?

Although LEDs don’t attract as many bugs as other lights, they still attract some. 

We will list the most common bugs attracted by LED strip lights. That way, you will learn what bugs you need to protect against.

Spiders

LED strip lights are a great spot for spiders to graze at night since tiny insects are drawn to them. 

Spiders prey on other insects, including those drawn to LED lighting. 

You should be aware that spiders may move close to your LED strip lights if they detect the presence of other insects in the area.

That means if you have LED lights inside your bedroom, you must keep them clean to avoid insects and spiders.

Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

LED strip lights attract tasty treats for wasps and hornets. Therefore they attract those insects as well.

Insects are easy prey for wasps and hornets, particularly those drawn to LED strip lights. 

It is a good idea to have wasps or hornets around your LED strip lights since they may trap other insects. 

Wasps and Hornets, like spiders, prey on the insects that are drawn to LED strip lights, but they also prey on other insects. 

You shouldn’t be shocked to discover wasps and hornets on your LED strip lights if you’ve had other pests in the area.

Bees

The front of a bee may occasionally exhibit phototactic reactions. Therefore it is feasible that bees might be drawn to LED strip lights. But it is rare!

Bees have a behavior known as phototaxis, which involves turning their bodies toward a source of light.

Because of this, it’s safe to assume that the presence of bees around your LED strip lights is attributable to the lights themselves.

Flies and Moths

Flies and moths, in particular, have been known to be drawn to the glow of LED strip lights.

3That occurs because, in general, these insects are drawn to artificial light. 

When near the LED strip, the navigation system also becomes unreliable.

That is due to the insects’ relying on the lights for natural illumination and heading straight for them. Consequently, they are drawn to the light.

Centipedes

Centipedes near your LED strips are likely a sign of a larger infestation.

Similar to how spiders are drawn to bright lights in search of food, centipedes are drawn to LEDs.

Here, the centipede will look for additional insects drawn to the LED light. That is because their diet consists mostly of insects.

Which Bugs Are NOT Attracted By LED Light Strips?

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are not likely to be attracted to LED strip lights. Cockroaches like dim environments, so eliminating those conditions with LED lighting is a win for everyone.

Bed bugs

Due to their preference for shadows, bed bugs are not likely to be drawn to LED lights or any other illumination source. 

They often are seen scurrying into beds, behind garments, curtains, and elsewhere under cover of night.

Ants

LED strip lights do not emit the ultraviolet light (UV) that ants are drawn to. 

Ants typically gravitate toward sources of food, water, and warmth. Because of that, it’s possible they won’t be drawn to LED lights since their low temperature won’t tempt them.

What We Learned

Do LED Light Strips Attract Bugs? Some insects, such as flies and moths, are drawn to LED lights just as to other types of illumination.

Because of those insects, some predators, such as spiders and wasps, might also approach your LED strip lights. 

However, some undesirable bugs will not bother you if you have LED strip lights around. Cockroaches, bed bugs, and ants, for example, are not attracted by LED strip lights in the least.

And, finally, remember that LED is the type of illumination that attracts bugs less!