Do Outdoor String Lights Attract Bugs?

Outdoor string lights can be a great addition to any outdoor gathering, providing light and atmosphere to what can otherwise be a dark, bland event. But one concern about outdoor string lights is that they may attract bugs. While this is true to some extent, there are ways to help mitigate the issue so that you can still enjoy your lights without dealing with too many pesky bugs.

What Kind of Lights Attract Bugs?
It’s important to note that not all types of lights attract bugs. In fact, most traditional incandescent bulbs don’t attract them at all.

It’s more likely that LED and fluorescent bulbs will be the culprits when it comes to attracting bugs. That’s because these types of bulbs emit ultraviolet (UV) light, which is invisible to humans but very attractive to many insects.

How To Prevent Bugs From Being Attracted?
There are several steps you can take to help prevent bugs from being attracted to your outdoor string lights. The first is to make sure you use bulbs with a low UV output.

LEDs are usually the best option as they emit almost no UV light at all. Furthermore, if you’re using an LED bulb, make sure it has a yellow or orange color spectrum as these colors are less attractive to insects than the blue and white colors.

You should also try avoiding hanging your lights in areas where there is standing water or other sources of moisture. This is because bugs tend to congregate around water sources for drinking and breeding purposes. Finally, you should also keep your lights away from plants as this will provide an additional food source for any potential pests.

Conclusion:

Do outdoor string lights attract bugs? Yes, they do – but by taking the right precautions and using the right type of bulbs you can reduce the chances of attracting unwanted pests while still enjoying your outdoor lighting experience.

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Samantha Mckinney