Wildlife

Moth Conservation and Night Habitat

Moths are important nocturnal pollinators and food sources for bats and birds, declining significantly due to light pollution, pesticides, and habitat loss.

Key Facts

The UK has approximately 2,500 moth species compared to 59 butterfly species
Over two-thirds of common moth species have declined since the 1970s
Garden moths including garden tiger and elephant hawk-moth are indicator species
Light pollution disrupts mating, navigation, and predator avoidance behaviour
Native trees including oak support hundreds of moth caterpillar species

Welfare Considerations

Individual moths exposed to artificial light experience disorientation, exhaustion from continuous circling, and increased predation risk. Population-level declines reduce the welfare of species dependent on moths including bats and many bird species. Reducing light pollution, planting native trees, and avoiding pesticides directly benefits moth populations and the wider ecosystem services they provide.

What You Can Do

Replace white outdoor lights with amber LED lights that attract fewer insects
Plant native trees and shrubs including oak and hawthorn in gardens
Run a moth trap to survey and record local moth diversity
Reduce garden pesticide use that kills moth caterpillars
Support moth conservation and recording groups in your area