十万个为什么·科学阅读30篇（4）

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某些蛾类如何仅靠星光导航？

Nocturnal moths like the Bogong moth detect polarized patterns in starlight using specialized photoreceptors.
Their compound eyes contain dorsal rim areas tuned to ultraviolet wavelengths scattered by night sky stars.
Even under moonless conditions, they maintain straight flight paths by referencing the Milky Way’s band.
Laboratory experiments prove they lose orientation when star patterns are obscured or rotated artificially.
This celestial navigation supports multi-night migrations spanning hundreds of kilometers to cool mountain refuges.
Unlike birds, moths lack internal magnetic compasses and rely entirely on visual sky cues.
Urban light pollution disrupts their ability to resolve faint stellar gradients, causing disorientation.
Researchers attach micro-tracking devices to study real-time flight behavior across diverse landscapes.
Evolutionary biologists compare moth neural circuits with those of dung beetles that also navigate by stars.
Understanding this system aids conservation planning for habitats aligned with natural light-pollution thresholds.