Moth Conservation: Supporting Nocturnal Pollinators

Moths are declining rapidly across the UK and play critical roles as pollinators and prey species, with individual welfare implications from light pollution and habitat loss.

Key Facts

Over 60% of common moth species have declined in abundance in the UK since 1968
Moths pollinate many plant species including those that flowers close at night
Light pollution attracts and disorients moths, disrupting navigation, mating, and feeding
Habitat loss including ancient woodland and chalk grassland has removed specialist moth communities
The National Moth Recording Scheme relies on volunteer trap data to monitor population trends

Welfare Considerations

Individual moths suffer from light pollution through disrupted circadian rhythms, impaired thermoregulation, and exhaustion from continuous flight toward artificial lights. Congregating around street lights makes moths highly visible to predators. Moth larvae suffer starvation when their specific host plant species are absent from the landscape. Pesticide exposure at sublethal doses impairs navigation and mating, reducing reproductive success. The welfare of individual moths is best protected through reducing artificial light pollution, maintaining diverse native plant communities, and reducing pesticide use in gardens and agricultural land adjacent to moth habitats.

What You Can Do

Turn off or shield artificial lights at night to reduce moth disorientation
Plant native flowering plants that support moth larvae and adult feeding
Avoid pesticide use in gardens, especially neonicotinoids that are toxic to moths
Participate in National Moth Night and other recording events to contribute to monitoring
Support grassland and woodland conservation that maintains specialist moth habitats