Night-time pollinators benefit from street lights being switched off in the middle of the night

Switching off street lights to save money and energy could have a positive knock-on effect on our nocturnal pollinators, according to new research.

A study, led by experts from Newcastle and York universities, has shown that turning off the lights even for just part of the night is effective at restoring the natural behaviour of moths.

The important role moths play in the pollination of plants -- potentially even including key food crops such as peas, soybean and oilseed rape -- is often overlooked. But recent studies show that moths supplement the day-time work of bees and other pollinating insects.

Night-lighting disrupts nocturnal pollination by attracting moths upwards, away from the fields and hedgerows so they spend less time feeding and therefore pollinating. But in this latest study, published today in Ecosphere, the team found there was no difference in pollination success between part-night lighting and full darkness.