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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Flying Insect Detection and Classification with Inexpensive Sensors
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Insects as unidentified flying objects.

P S Callahan, R W Mankin

    Applied Optics
    |March 6, 2010
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Insects emit light when exposed to electric fields, potentially explaining nocturnal UFO sightings. Spruce budworm infestations correlated with Uintah Basin UFO events, suggesting a link between insect behavior and unexplained aerial phenomena.

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    Area of Science:

    • Entomology
    • Atmospheric Electricity
    • Ufology

    Background:

    • Insects exhibit bioluminescence and electro-luminescence under specific conditions.
    • Nocturnal Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) displays have been reported globally, with limited scientific explanation.
    • The Uintah Basin, Utah, experienced notable nocturnal UFO sightings between 1965 and 1968.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the potential link between insect electro-luminescence and unexplained aerial phenomena.
    • To explore the hypothesis that spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) swarms contributed to Uintah Basin UFO sightings.
    • To examine correlations between insect infestations and nocturnal aerial observations.

    Main Methods:

    • Subjecting five insect species to large electric fields to observe light emission.

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  • Analyzing temporal and spatial correlations between historical UFO sightings and spruce budworm infestation data.
  • Comparing insect-induced electro-luminescence with characteristics of reported UFO phenomena.

    • Main Results:

    • Insects exposed to strong electric fields emitted visible and ultraviolet (UV) light, a phenomenon akin to St. Elmo's fire.
    • A significant temporal and spatial correlation was found between the 1965-1968 Uintah Basin UFO sightings and spruce budworm infestations.
    • The observed insect light emissions align with some characteristics of reported nocturnal UFO displays.

    Conclusions:

    • Insect electro-luminescence, particularly from spruce budworms, is a plausible contributing factor to nocturnal UFO sightings.
    • Further research correlating UFO sightings with insect flight patterns across North America is warranted.
    • This study offers a novel, biologically-based explanation for certain unexplained aerial phenomena.