At night, it is common to see moths and other insects flying insistently around lamps, lit windows, or artificial light sources. This behavior, often interpreted as a simple attraction to light, is actually a complex phenomenon. Although there is still no definitive explanation, it is known that artificial lighting profoundly interferes with these insects’ natural orientation mechanisms.
Throughout their evolutionary process, moths have developed the ability to orient themselves using natural light sources, such as the moon and stars, adjusting their body position during flight and maintaining a constant angle in relation to these celestial references, which allows them to fly in a straight line. With the advent of artificial lighting, these orientation strategies have become ineffective, as there are multiple sources of artificial light at different heights and intensities, leading them to fly in circles, repeatedly approach the light source, or even collide and fall.
Prolonged exposure to artificial lights causes moths to expend precious energy that should be used to search for food, reproduce, or disperse throughout the territory. In addition, they become easy prey for predators such as bats, birds, or spiders, which have learned to exploit these artificial concentrations of insects. This imbalance affects not only moths, but the entire nocturnal ecosystem, including plants that depend on pollination carried out at night.
Light pollution is now recognized as a growing threat to nocturnal biodiversity. Reducing unnecessary lights at night, opting for more targeted lighting, and avoiding high-intensity bulbs are simple measures that can make a difference. Protecting natural darkness is also a way to protect the life that depends on it: silent, discreet, and essential to the balance of nocturnal ecosystems.
