Moths are strongly attracted to ultraviolet and blue radiation
- Author(s)
- Gunnar Brehm, Julia Niermann, Luisa Maria Jaimes Nino, David Enseling, Thomas Jüstel, Jan Christoph Axmacher, Eric Warrant, Konrad Fiedler
- Abstract
Abstract We carried out three choice experiments with 6116 nocturnal lepidopteran individuals (95 species, 7 families, 32?075 counts), each replicated 105 times during the seasons of 2?years. Moths were released indoors at the centre of a 10???10?m area with different lamps placed at each corner. In experiment 1, lamps emitted ultraviolet (UV) (peak at 365?nm), blue (450?nm), green (520?nm) or cool white (450 and 520?nm) radiation. In experiment?2, UV was replaced by red (640?nm). In experiment?3, we used UV and three mixed radiation lamps of different emission intensities (365?520?nm). We applied a linear mixed effect model to test for differences in attraction to the light sources. Among all counts, 12.2% (males) and 9.2% (females) were attracted to a lamp. Among the lamp counts, 84% were made at the UV lamp in experiment?1. In experiment?2, 63% of the counts were made at the blue lamp. In experiment?3, most counts were made at the strongest mixed radiation lamp (31%), and the UV lamp (28%). Patterns were generally similar across Lepidopteran families, and for both sexes. Moths are clearly preferentially attracted to short-wave radiation. Even small quantities of UV radiation, emitted, for example, by metal halide lamps and certain mercury vapour tubes, will disproportionately contribute to light pollution. Since blue light also attracts moths strongly, lamps with a low proportion of blue light should be given priority in lighting planning.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- External organisation(s)
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, University Hospital Regensburg, Fachhochschule Münster, University College London, Agricultural University of Iceland, Lund University
- Journal
- Insect Conservation and Diversity
- Volume
- 14
- Pages
- 188-198
- No. of pages
- 11
- ISSN
- 1752-458X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12476
- Publication date
- 03-2021
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106003 Biodiversity research, 106047 Animal ecology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Insect Science, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0ace25a6-78e9-48d9-9cba-f2d673ff0417