Enter lamp, stage left
What moth evolution couldn’t account for was the proliferation of 24/7 electric light in our modern world.

Indeed, the day that Thomas Edison patented the lightbulb—January 27, 1880, which paved the way for global distribution of electric illumination—was a dark day in moth history.

“It’s all gone awry because we’ve provided so many artificial moons,” says Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology at UC Davis.

Elements within moth eyes are tuned to faint light, and act “like miniature telescopes.” Thus when they’re faced with powerful artificial illumination, it can act as a “super-stimulant,” Kimsey says. (Related: These moths drink the tears of sleeping birds)

“When you’ve got really bright lights it’s almost irresistible.