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Want to help our precious nocturnal bugs

Want to help our precious nocturnal bugs during Matariki’s longer nights? Turn the lights down low

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520796/want-to-help-our-precious-nocturnal-bugs-during-matariki-s-longer-nights-turn-the-lights-down-low

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6 comments
  • I find this bit a bit confusing.

    Contrary to myth, nocturnal insects do not fly around artificial lights because they confuse them with the moon or stars. Recent research, filming moths with high-speed cameras, found they use moonlight and starlight to differentiate between "up" and "down" as they fly.

    Their erratic flight around your outside light is actually due to them trying to orientate themselves to a nonexistent horizon.

    I don't quite get the difference between insects confusing lights with the moon and stars vs using them to orient up and down, which presumably is due to them being like the moon or stars so they can tell which way is up.

    It would be nice if they actually described how this research identified what makes them confused, or explained it a bit more.

    Also, do inside lights affect insects when curtains are shut (which largely block the light), or is it mostly outside lights and street lights?

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