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A light trap is a device designed to exclude light or to capture insects. There are two primary definitions for a light trap:

  1. Excluding Light: This type of light trap is a mechanism that permits the movement of a sliding part or the passage of a person, such as entering a darkroom, while simultaneously preventing any light from entering.1

  2. Capturing Insects: This device uses a bright light to attract and then trap or destroy insects. A related term, "traplight," specifically refers to devices that use light to trap or collect insects.12

The term "light trap" was first used in 1882.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. light trap
  2. traplight

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