Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
22 Aug 2026
Image credit: Getty Images
Why Flying Insects Circle Lights at Night
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Insects fly in circles near lamps.
b) Insects eat glowing street lights.
c) Insects sleep inside bright bulbs.
Ask:
(1) Do you ever see insects flying near lights at night?
(2) Why do you think moths fly around lamps?
VOCABULARY
Insect
/ɪn.sekt/
(Noun)
Bright
/braɪt/
(Adjective)
Secret
/ˈsiː.krət/
(Noun)
Balanced
/ˈbæl.ənst/
(Adjective)
Lamp
/læmp/
(Noun)
Discovery
/dɪˈskʌv.ər.i/
(Noun)
A small creature with six legs.
Example: A small insect landed on the green leaf.
Having a lot of light.
Example: The bright light shines in the garden.
Information that is hidden or unknown.
Example: They found a secret about how moths fly.
Keeping steady so you do not fall.
Example: The bird stays balanced on the tree branch.
An artificial light object.
Example: He turned on the street lamp outside.
Learning something new for the first time.
Example: The scientists made an exciting discovery.
Many people see moths and other flying insects around bright street lights at night. For a long time, people believed that insects liked bright lights very much. Now, clever scientists have discovered an exciting new secret about how insects fly in the dark. Insects do not fly towards lights because they want to touch them. Instead, insects get confused by artificial lights from lamps and buildings.
In nature, the open sky is always the brightest thing at night. Insects fly with their backs turned towards the sky to stay balanced in the air. When a flying insect gets near a lamp, it turns its back towards the light source. This makes the insect fly around and around in endless circles. It cannot fly straight anymore and sometimes crashes into the hard ground below. Scientists used special fast cameras to watch insects flying near lamps. They hope this big discovery will help people build safer street lights.
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever seen moths around a porch light or street light?
2. What other flying insects do you know?
3. Why is it important for scientists to study animals and insects?
4. How do you feel when you see an insect in your home?
5. What can people do to help protect insects at night?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: balanced / confused / discovery / secret
Many people see moths and other flying insects around bright street lights at night. For a long time, people believed that insects liked bright lights very much. Now, clever scientists have discovered an exciting new _______(1) about how insects fly in the dark. Insects do not fly towards lights because they want to touch them. Instead, insects get _______(2) by artificial lights from lamps and buildings.
In nature, the open sky is always the brightest thing at night. Insects fly with their backs turned towards the sky to stay _______(3) in the air. When a flying insect gets near a lamp, it turns its back towards the light source. This makes the insect fly around and around in endless circles. It cannot fly straight anymore and sometimes crashes into the hard ground below. Scientists used special fast cameras to watch insects flying near lamps. They hope this big _______(4) will help people build safer street lights.
Section 2: Main Idea
Choose the main idea of the story:
a) Insects fly in circles near lamps because the light confuses their flying balance.
b) Scientists want to catch all the moths near street lights.
c) Moths prefer to fly during the day instead of at night.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. People used to think that insects liked bright lights. T/F
2. Insects turn their backs towards the brightest light to balance. T/F
3. The new study used fast cameras to look at fish. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Number the events from 1 to 3:
[ ] An insect flies near a bright street lamp at night.
[ ] The insect turns its back to the lamp and flies in circles.
[ ] Scientists study the insect using special fast cameras.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. Insect
2. Bright
3. Balanced
4. Lamp
5. Secret
a) Giving out a lot of light
b) A small animal with six legs
c) Something hidden or unknown
d) A light made by humans
e) Steady and not falling over
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence:
1. When moths see street lights, they get _______ and lose their direction.
a) confused
b) happy
c) sleepy
2. The sky is the brightest _______ for flying insects at night.
a) food
b) source
c) plant
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the sentence parts to make a correct sentence:
1. A: fly in circles B: near bright lamps C: Night insects D: at night E: when they get confused
2. A: Insects turn B: towards the sky C: their backs D: to stay steady E: while flying
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer:
a) Insects fly in circles near lamps.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
secret
confused
balanced
discovery
Section 2: Main Idea
a) Insects fly in circles near lamps because the light confuses their flying balance.
Section 3: True or False
True
True
False
Section 4: Put Events in Order
[1] An insect flies near a bright street lamp at night.
[2] The insect turns its back to the lamp and flies in circles.
[3] Scientists study the insect using special fast cameras.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - b 2 - a 3 - e 4 - d 5 - c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
a) confused
b) source
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
C - A - B - D - E (Night insects fly in circles near bright lamps at night when they get confused.)
A - C - B - D - E (Insects turn their backs towards the sky to stay steady while flying.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own answers.
Thank you for your feedback!