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https://theconversation.com/want-to-help-our-precious-nocturnal-bugs-during-matarikis-longer-nights-turn-the-lights-down-low-232701>
"In a world increasingly affected by light pollution, we can take time during
the shorter days and longer nights around Matariki to appreciate the
superpowers of our nocturnal bugs.
As diurnal creatures, our world view is strongly biased towards a daytime
perspective. We pay more attention to events happening during daylight, and
sometimes overlook the fascinating world of nocturnal insects.
Human eyes are very poor at gathering enough light particles – photons – to see
clearly at night. We need the light of a full moon to have much hope of
navigating safely.
For millennia, then, we’ve used fire and more recently electricity to
artificially light up the night. Nocturnal insects now deal with a very
different nightscape than they did even a century ago.
It’s been estimated that 23% of the world’s land area is affected by light
pollution. This is thought to be one of the factors contributing to insect
decline worldwide.
Recent research suggests about a third of insects attracted to artificial
lights will die by morning, often from exhaustion. If those insects have been
prevented from mating and laying eggs, there are huge implications for
population survival, as well as for ecosystem functions such as pollination and
biocontrol."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
