BBC Radio 4 LW

Shared Planet

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Series exploring the complex interface between a growing human population and wildlife

Monty Don presents a series exploring the complex interface between a growing human population and wildlife

Shared Planet: Insects and Street Lights

Light Pollution

14/10/2014

Insects and Street Lights

BBC Radio 4 - Shared Planet, Insects and Street Lights

Can insects share the planet with our need for artificial light? Monty Don investigates.

Artificial lighting extends our day and makes us feel safe, but how much of an effect is our need for light in the hours of darkness having on wildlife, particularly insects?

Artificial lighting is ubiquitous in the developed world - but the effects of night time illumination on wildlife are not yet fully understood. While we know that artificial light changes the behaviour of some animals we're still a long way from knowing whether those changes can damage wildlife populations. This week Monty Don finds out what we do know with particular regard to an important but often overlooked group of animals - insects.

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