Did you know that nocturnal insects – particularly moths – are responsible for the same amount of plant pollination as daytime insects such as bees and butterflies? And just like their daytime cousins, nocturnal pollinators are under threat from insecticides and habitat destruction. 

However, nocturnal pollinators face an additional peril – artificial nighttime lighting. We’ve all seen moths fluttering around porch lights and streetlamps. Unfortunately, when nocturnal insects are crowding around nighttime lighting, they’re not visiting plants and helping them reproduce. Making matters worse, many of the insects flying around artificial nighttime light die of exhaustion.  

So, if you hope for a great yield from your vegetable garden, or want to ensure that local farms produce healthy and robust crops, then please turn off your outdoor lighting when you turn in. Let nighttime pollinators do their job of supporting the food chain!