Abstract
Insects exhibit diverse responses to light. The most typical response is phototaxis, movement towards or
away from light. Optical technologies are becoming increasingly effective tools in integrated pest management
(IPM). Until the 1990s, insect traps using fluorescent tubes and moth-repellent lights using yellow
sodium lamps were widely used. In the 2000s, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) capable of emitting
monochromatic light with high luminous efficiency were developed that enhanced the potential of lightbased
pest control. At the same time, numerous studies on insect neurophysiology and neuroethology
provided new useful information, such as the spectral sensitivity of the insect compound eye and the behavioral
responses to specific wavelengths in many species. These efforts led to the discovery of a new
biological phenomenon called Light Response Reactions. Recent advances in this area have been astonishing,
which motivated the developing new pest control technologies.
