Artificial light at night, from the confusion of sea turtle larvae following the moonlight, disrupt sleep patterns It strains free-living animals like birds, stresses caterpillars, and accelerates aging.
Scientists continue to investigate further the effects of artificial night lighting on caterpillar-like insect larvae.a A study published in the journal this month Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences They found that even moderate levels of artificial light attract more caterpillar predators and reduce the likelihood that their larvae will develop into moths. Lepidoptera Butterflies and skippers are also included, and their larvae feed on larger prey such as birds, wasps, and small amphibians.
[Related: The switch to LEDs in Europe is visible from space.]
To test this theory of light, Cornell University scientists placed 552 lifelike caterpillar replicas made of soft clay in a New Hampshire forest and placed them on leaves to make them look as real as possible. Glued. They were made from green clay that mimicked the color and size of two moth caterpillars. Noctuidae (owl moth) and Nothodontidae (pronounced moth). When predators such as birds, other insects, and arthropods attempt to nibble on the pseudocaterpillar, they can leave marks in the soft clay.
Some models were placed in experimental lots. 10-15 lux LED lighting, or roughly the brightness of a street lamp. The lights remained on at night for approximately seven weeks in June and July 2021.
Of the 552 caterpillars deployed, 521 models were recovered. Nearly half (249 false caterpillars) showed arthropod predation marks during nocturnal surveys during the summer. Furthermore, they found that the predation rate of caterpillars was 27% higher in experimental plots compared to control plots that did not have LED lighting.
This poses another ecological problem for Lepidoptera, as the night sky is increasingly polluted with artificial light. habitat loss, chemical contaminants used in agriculture, climate changeand increasingly prevalent invasive species, according to the team.
[Related: ‘Skyglow’ is rapidly diminishing our nightly views of the stars.]
These findings are particularly worrying for caterpillars that feed on leaves during their larval stage and reliably grow into the next developmental stage.Study co-author and research ecologist Sarah Kaiser said to Cornell Chronicle“I turn on the porch light and suddenly I see a swarm of worms outside the door. Top-down pressure – chances of being eaten by something.
Some easy ways to reduce artificial light are to manage your exterior lighting remotely with smart lighting controls. close to the ground and shieldeduse the lowest intensity lighting possible.
