WE hear daily a cry ‘save the monkeys’, ‘save the blind dogs’ and so the list goes on.
This letter is a cry to save ‘our insects’.
Please Google ‘Plummeting insect numbers threaten collapse of nature.’
Without our insects we may not have monkeys, blind dogs or even us.
Please consider the following:
It has been customary for people to keep outside lights on. This has mainly been for security reasons.
Though there does not seem to be any evidence to suggest that criminals will leave your house alone if you have bright lights on. The reverse seems more obvious that you are giving the criminals a light to see where they are going or where the dog lies sleeping. I would say motion sensor lights are more effective.
The problem with keeping outside lights on is they attract insects. This disorientates our nocturnal insects.
Nocturnal insects, not just bees, do pollinate plants.
Lights that are close to a wall also attract Geckos. These Geckos wait in large numbers and kill and eat any insects that are attracted by these lights. Easy targets!
Our insect populations are declining rapidly. We need them to pollinate our plants. Without them I am not sure how long we would survive on this planet.
I am told that there is an alien species of Gecko that is decimating the indigenous population. We don’t need this either.
I would urge people to keep outside lights off. Save our insects, save electricity. It is light pollution at its worst.
Fit motion sensor lights, they come on when you need them.
Ask yourself, when last did you see a Gecko? Then ask yourself when last did you see a firefly or a chameleon? Then go and hit that outside light switch off and save our insects. If you leave it on, ask yourself how many insects will I kill tonight?
Save Our Insects
Kloof
