Streetlights to blame for falling insect populations, study says

Streetlights are contributing to a concerning decline in insect populations, according to a new UK study.

And LED lights, which are designed to be 'environmentally-friendly', appear to be biggest culprits when it comes to warding off the insects.

A study published in Science Advances has found that artificial street lights disrupt the behaviour of nocturnal moths, reducing caterpillar numbers by half.

The idea that artificial lighting at night is contributing to declining insect populations has been a worldwide concern for some time.

Significantly, the lighting has been found to disrupt insects' reproduction.

Researchers believe street lights deter nocturnal moths from laying their eggs and put insects at risk of being found and eaten by predators, such as bats.

What's more, the study found negative impacts on caterpillar populations was more pronounced under LED street lights compared to conventional yellow sodium lamps.

While white LED lights are more energy efficient, they produce more blue light, which is the colour predominantly seen by insects, according to scientists.

The authors of the study say the ongoing shift toward white LEDs will have substantial consequences for insect populations and ecosystem processes.

But they say there are practical solutions that won't reduce public safety, including dimming the lights, fitting motion sensors or using filters to cut out the most harmful wavelengths.

For more information, the study can be found here.