Natural History Wanderings

Why moths are attracted to light

Increased barrier effects through street lighting

ScienceDaily reports

Light at night changes animals’ behavior. A new study shows that moths are attracted to street lamps within a radius of approximately 23 meters. The number of specimens attracted depends on the position of the street lamp: on the border of dark zones, more moths are attracted to the light than in an area’s center where many lamps are used. Considering the standard distance between lamp posts in Europe, the nightscape appears fragmented to moths. This causes them to lose valuable time and energy at the lamps, so that increasing lighting may decrease their abundance.

Read full story at Why moths are attracted to light: Increased barrier effects through street lighting — ScienceDaily