Saving the small things that run the planetMost of the animals on earth are invertebrates, but did you know two-thirds of invertebrates are partially or wholly nocturnal – that means most are active at times when we are all asleep!
Because we don’t often see and interact with most of these species, some of their needs are often overlooked. However, many of their jobs are the same as the daytime species, pollinating, recycling nutrients, carrying out natural pest control and providing food for other animals.
Darkness, night flowering plants and safe spaces for nocturnal species to hide out in the daytime are all things we should be including into our efforts to restore and protect invertebrate populations.
Tell elected officials: Don’t Neglect the Night
Most of the earth is affected by light pollution. 80% of the world’s population live under skyglow and almost everyone in the UK cannot experience a natural night sky from where they live.
The evidence of the impacts of light pollution on species and ecosystems has grown and strengthened. Increased Artificial Light at Night, known as ALAN, is directly linked to measurable negative impacts on energy consumption, human health, and wildlife such as bats, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants. Unnecessary artificial light increases financial costs and contributes to greenhouse emissions.
The problem has gone unchecked for so long, research suggests global levels of light pollution have increased 10% every year since 2011 and continue to do so.
Everyone is familiar with insects flying around a light at night. But unfortunately, this attraction to light can have fatal consequences for the insects involved. Exhaustion, increased predation, and a disrupted ability to navigate are just some of the reasons why up to a third of insects attracted to lights die.
Attraction to light isn’t the only consequence of light pollution. Artificial light is known to have numerous direct and indirect effects on our insect populations affecting almost every aspect of their lives. Impacts are seen in mating, feeding, navigating, development and even their ability to hatch at the correct time.
Two-thirds of invertebrates are partially or wholly nocturnal, and even diurnal species can be impacted by the loss of their night. The situation is so serious that light pollution is reducing the nocturnal pollinator visits to flowers by 62% in some areas.
It’s not just insects, almost every species studied shows an impact when exposed to artificial light.
We are calling on everyone to help us Nurture the Night Shift, to support nocturnal wildlife going about their lives playing vital roles in our ecosystems.
The nature of light pollution presents a unique solution. It is a form of pollution that can be solved, quite literally, with the flick of a switch. Once a light has been turned off, that pollution no longer exists – unlike issues such as plastics, pesticides, air pollution or climate change, which, despite turning off the source, will continue to cause harm until completely removed.
We have developed some new resources to help you engage with and protect nocturnal wildlife in your garden. Even small changes can make a big difference to our smallest living things!
(Don’t forget to tag us! Use #NurtureTheNightShift if you are sharing your actions on social media)
If you want to learn more about nocturnal bugs we would recommend borrowing or buying a field guide, here are some useful guides:
Every time we turn on a light, we risk polluting the natural world. But what if helping to protect nature was as simple as drawing the curtains or lowering a blind?
This simple action, that many of us already carry out every day, will help reduce light pollution and the impact it has on nature.
Will you join us in keeping the light inside?
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