Your porchlight is causing moths to evolve

[progressoid]

Moths have an almost fatal attraction to lights—so much so that we say people are drawn to bad ends “like moths to a flame.” But in this age of global light pollution, that saying has a new poignancy: Moths, which are typically nocturnal insects, are dying in droves at artificial lights. The high levels of mortality should have evolutionary consequences, leading to moths that avoid lights, biologists say. To find out, two scientists tested the flight-to-light behavior of 1048 adult ermine moths (Yponomeuta cagnagella, shown below) in Europe. The researchers collected the insects in 2007 as larvae that had just completed their first molt. Three hundred and twenty came from populations that lived where the skies were largely dark; 728 were gathered in light polluted areas. They were raised in a lab with 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of darkness daily while they completed their life stages. Two to 3 days after emerging as moths, they were released in a flight cage with a fluorescent tube at one side. Moths from high light pollution areas were significantly less attracted to the light than those from the darker zones, the scientists report in today’s issue of Biology Letters. Overall, moths from the light-polluted populations had a 30% reduction in the flight-to-light behavior, indicating that this species is evolving, as predicted, to stay away from artificial lights. That change should increase these city moths’ reproductive success. But their success comes at a cost: To avoid the lights, the moths are likely flying less, say the scientists, so they aren’t pollinating as many flowers or feeding as many spiders and bats.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/04/moths-evolve-avoid-lights?utm_source=sciencemagazine&utm_medium=facebook-text&utm_campaign=therearefourlights-3563

[merrily]

1. The moths aren't pollinating; the bees aren't pollinating. Not to worry, though! Monsanto's on it!

[progressoid]

2. Actually, contrary to media reports, bee populations aren't in serious jeopardy.

Bee populations in the U.S. have been steady for years and increased in 4 of the last 5 years. Bee populations in Canada have been steadily increasing over the last 15 years. And in Europe, the increase has been even greater. Across the world, honeybee colonies have been increasing every single year: by nearly 15% since 2000, according to the FAOSTAT data page. (In the graph, the world population relates to the right hand y-axis, ranging from 70,708,000 to 81,027,000 hives from 2000 to 2013.)

?itok=ECdZ9Fa2

http://www.examiner.com/article/no-bee-populations-are-not-declining

The world’s bee population has been rising almost continuously for the past 50 years, according to FAO stats. There are almost 10 million beehives in the world now than in 2000 – an increase of 13.2 percent.

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/07/30/beepocalypse-myth-handbook-dissecting-claims-of-pollinator-collapse/


Also, I just found this out, (you probably don't want to read this) Monsanto is on it...

Beeologics and Monsanto are developing the technology to silence two parasites that commonly affect agricultural pollinators: Israeli acute paralysis virus and parasitic mites belonging to the Varroa genus. Both can be targeted at the same time with the same product. Better yet, the first product created by Beeologics is delivered in feed, won't result in viral resistance, is extremely specific, is non-toxic, and does not leave residues on honeybees or honey. Future RNAi products currently being developed by Monsanto, called BioDirect, will be topical agents sprayed onto crops

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/02/22/monsanto-companys-plan-to-silence-its-critics-and.aspx

[merrily]

4. Fantastic. Glad to "hear" it. Thank you.

As far as not wanting to read about Monsanto, that is not true of me. I don't like Monsanto, but I am not an ostrich. I don't think I mind the spray. I am more suspicious of something delivered in feed. Time will tell.

Thanks again for the info.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. The Porch, could be darker.

The barns, could be darker.

[HuckleB]

5. K & R!

[Vincardog]

6. The moth thinks " not feeding as many spiders and bats" ain't so bad.