Overview

Phototaxis, as the name suggests, studies how the movement of motile organisms (moths in this case) are affected by a light source. Each moth in the simulation is an independent entity following its own path, influenced by the position and intensity of nearby “lanterns”. As the lanterns periodically turn on and off the moths are redirected naturally, following the closest and brightest lantern.

Originally I explored using boid algorithms to simulate the flight patterns, but moths don’t flock in real life and are not known to fly in groups. As such the simulation agents here follow their own individual paths, heeding only to the call of the brightest lanterns in their vicinity. This simulation therefore attempts to explore how group patterns can emerge from individual behaviors.

It’s best viewed on desktop, mobile might be a bit laggy. Orbit the scene with the left and right arrow keys, or swipe on mobile.