Research reveals that street lights with gaps in Baden-Württemberg significantly reduce insect attraction
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Karlsruhe Regional Council has spearheaded a study on the impact of insect-friendly lighting on road infrastructure, aiming to minimise wildlife deaths and protect essential ecosystems.
The study, conducted across three nature reserves in Baden-Württemberg, involved the installation of hanging traps to gather data on the types and numbers of insects attracted to various light sources. Unaltered lights served as a control, while shielded LED lighting was only illuminated where necessary, such as on footpaths.
One notable project is the pilot scheme in Heiningen, where lights at the bypass are dimmed based on traffic volume data, potentially reducing energy consumption. In Ahrenshoop, 15 side-shielded red light lanterns were put into operation on a street last year, emitting yellow-orange light in twilight hours and red in night hours, as insects generally cannot see red light.
The results of the study have shown promising outcomes. By selecting light wavelengths less attractive to insects, the number of insects attracted to light was roughly halved when test sections were equipped with specifically directed lights. This reduction in attraction could significantly reduce wildlife deaths, particularly those of insectivorous wildlife like bats, birds, and other animals relying on insects for food.
Dominique Erb, who manages the "NaturLicht" project at the Karlsruhe authority, recommends municipalities to choose a shielded LED variant with a low color temperature - warm white or amber - when replacing street lights, especially near valuable habitats like nature reserves.
Moreover, adjusting brightness and timing has been identified as another key approach. Dimming lights during periods of low traffic and at times corresponding to peak insect activity lessens ecological disruption.
The new lights used in the study would significantly reduce negative impacts on important ecosystem functions, such as nighttime pollination. The Cologne Cathedral has already adopted this approach, illuminating the landmark with more than 700 LED lamps since April, with the aim of minimising light pollution and protecting it as a habitat for insects and other animals.
The emphasis is clearly on integrating insect-friendly lighting to mitigate negative impacts of road illumination on wildlife. This approach offers a promising pathway to minimise wildlife deaths linked to insect disruption caused by artificial road lighting.
As these strategies align with current best practices emerging from similar ecological lighting research, it seems that the future of road infrastructure could be set to become more harmonious with nature.
- The integration of shielded LED lighting with low color temperature, as recommended by Dominique Erb, could be a beneficial technological solution in the field of environmental science, considering its potential to reduce wildlife deaths caused by climate-change related factors, such as disrupted insect patterns.
- The increasing use of insect-friendly lighting in road infrastructure is not only a significant advancement in science but also a commendable step towards mitigating the impact of transportation on the environment, particularly in terms of minimizing wildlife deaths and promoting harmony between road systems and nature.
