Cheryl Crocker, age 15, of Widefield, Colo., for her question:

WHY ARE MOTHS ATTRACTED TO BRIGHT LIGHTS?

Almost all adult moths sleep during the day and come out at night to search for food. Although they can see very well in the dark, they use their sharp sense of smell to find flowers that are in bloom. In addition to drinking nectar from flowers, moths also sip sap from trees and drink water from ponds and streams.

Mother Nature has given the moth an almost urgent desire to seek out a light in the dark. Scientists aren't sure why this happens. There is an especially strong attraction to the ultraviolet light produced by fluorescent lamps. If there is a moth any place in the area, he will certainly come fluttering toward a bright fluorescent light.

Wings of moths can measure from a tiny tenth of an inch to a giant 12 inch wingspread.