Making this simple switch can help insects and wildlife!

Light pollution and outdoor lighting is a big problem for our native insects. Recent studies suggest that these lights play a major role in the devastating decline of insect populations in the last several decades. Luckily, this is something we can easily fix on our properties.
Here are some options:
1. Turn your outdoor lights off at night entirely.
2. Install a motion-activated system that only turns on when motion is detected outside. Or,
3. Install a yellow LED bulb in place of your white lights. These yellow wavelengths attract the fewest insects by far and will reduce insect death.
4. Advocate in your community for less light pollution by pressuring local businesses and other institutions to turn off unnecessary lights at night.
#lightpollution #insects #nativeplants #plants #bugs #moths #mothing #lights #outdoor #outdoorlights #darkskies #nature #wildlife #tips

[@whysocurious7366]

I know it’s kinda sad, but so many people are terrified of bugs, that it may help to make a short where you just say it will stop attracting them. Average people will tune out when they hear “save the bugs” because they don’t understand the importance of it.

[@Cluelessguy24]

Not the mosquitos tho

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

That's a great point! A totally different way to approach this topic. Thanks for that idea!

[@afirewasinmyhead]

I hate bugs but my main takeaway from this was still “yellow light = fewer bugs by the house = hell yeah” lol

[@kyle207]

​@@afirewasinmyhead Lol same ordering yellow lights now

[@charlesrhodes1089]

​@Andrew_the_Arborist which light attracts the most bugs? Asking for a friend.

[@patarkovax]

Ive been fighting my city council on this for over a year now, they keep putting up these ugly white LED street lights in rural areas (and wetlands) that are harmful to wildlife and humans (temporary blindness and blue light exposure).

[@azerial]

I had one of these. They work. It's great. The best part is if your lamp is right next to your door, you're not inundated with a swarm of insects whenever you enter your apartment

[@heehoopeanut420]

my apartment insists on having auto lights in a horrid bright white😭

[@user-xk1ff4gp7k]

Set by Future bug farmer

[@T13GUY]

I saved a beautiful moth the other day. It got trapped inside the building I live in, the lights in the stairwell (even though they're motion activated) along with the always open windows sometimes attract moths that then can't get out. I took him to a much more insect friendly area away from most buildings with plenty his preferred food plant around :D

[@dm41390]

“Insect Death” , the name of my new heavy metal band, our fans rock into exhaustion from crashing into each other flying around the mosh pit in circles

[@killermetalwolf2843]

The mosh pit doesn’t start until someone brings out a lamp

[@MightyFineMan]

That’s the most metal name I’ve heard in a long time

[@elinhulldin5926]

I heard that having the light shine only downwards also helps, because they think light always means up

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I haven't made this switch yet, we usually just leave our lights off unless we are expecting someone after dark. But I say the same thing - don't attract insects, especially pollinators, if you're just going to trap and kill them with poisons or in this case lights. Before planting natives for my clients I make sure they don't spray anything.

[@livinitwhell]

These work great for a porch light. I use this bulb now and I no longer have to walk out the front door at night into a swarm of flying insects. I also have less bugs that fly inside when I open the door.

[@Dms12444]

This was an interesting thing I noticed after installing a low pressure sodium (SOX) lamp as a porch light. With a pure yellow light, the number of bugs I see on my porch at night is way smaller than the old white CFLs.

[@sean_mccormack]

Me too,I’ve had a sox lamp outside my house for years.

[@Socksquash]

Outdoor lighting contributes to bird deaths as well

[@PatrickStar12341]

lol

[@user-zc7uk9dn2x]

As far as I know some wavelengths aren't actually visible to bugs, blue or not idk. You can buy lamps that emit only those wavelengths.

[@ollymaitani4742]

Saw this and went out and bought one at homedepot. Looks great and I’ll be switching more bulbs out for bug lights.

[@MrHeff]

Something I honestly never considered. Really informative video, I will absolutely take that into consideration! My lights are already on short timers and motion detectors to save energy and money, but this is another great reason!

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

That’s great! Glad you have yours on motion detectors!

[@GUILLOTINE_GANG]

Doing the good work.

[@bshays21]

I work 3rd shift. It's so bright outside all night because of all the businesses lights. When you look at the lights you barely see one big flying around. Back in the day you'd see swarms. Same with the front of vehicles. Grills used to get covered in bugs after a drive. Nowadays there are no bugs on the front of my car. Maybe one a week.

[@jedisdeth5741]

You're mistaken, I'm not on the bugs side.

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

This is weird sht

[@Hale444]

You have my sword

[@65591]

You'll get less bugs with a yellow light

[@V77710]

A) You will have less bugs with a yellow light, so you win, insects win. B) Like insects or not, their role in the food on your plate is immensely important. If you eat meat, they pollinate the plants that feed your cows etc

[@uspelleditwrong]

Thank you for this!! I never knew about this, poor little buggies

[@gabriellafox7948]

❤️🇨🇦LOVED this! I’ve never even thought of or considered this so thanks for the info. I recently sold my house and now live in a walk up lower level. I just feel safer with the light on when it’s dark. That said I’m definitely gonna get an orange (or yellow) light ASAP!

[@user-gp5tw5vo8t]

This is very interesting and informative! Would love a video on native prickly pears! Support from Central PA.

[@V77710]

This needs to be shared. Now that science knows how many insects die because of this, people need to find out about this, especially those of us who care about the bugs

[@bedeckt]

just saved a granddaddy ultralonglegs who was in my room for over a day. Had to force him outside, but he wouldnt have survived in here.

[@blindmown]

Nah, they get smashed on sight.

[@DBT1007]

Ok noted. Yellow bulb. But better it to be neon LED, right? So that it need less electricity.

[@StratospheralNurse]

Great informative video! How does orange light do? Our porch light is warm orange.

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

Orange and red work just fine too!

[@StratospheralNurse]

@@Andrew_the_Arborist Thanks for the response :)

[@DBT1007]

​@@Andrew_the_Arboristowh... So it's in that spectrum. How about green? Because it looks reddish+yellowish

[@Warp3326]

Is incandescent fine​@@Andrew_the_Arborist

[@65591]

​​@@DBT1007 Green is yellow+blue so basically yellow minus red. Are you colourblind? Also it's around green that insects start being attracted by the light, so not good. Red seems to be best.

[@throngcleaver]

I live in the boonies and never turn on the outside lights, unless it's very brief. Normally, I just take a flashlight to go to my truck or get something from the barn. Thanks for making it feel like I'm helping! 😁

[@user-kp5xy8xy4m]

Wow, didn’t know this! Thanks for the information.

The yellowest lights (sodium vapour) still attract insects. White LEDs, with their weird spectrum, were ignored by insects at first but they became attracted a few years later like of any other light source.

[@Tokidumdum]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I had no idea. I have 5 different lights on outside at night. Gotta fix this issue asap.

[@kmc6506]

Outside is meant to be dark at night. Unless you are actually outside doing something and need light, they should be off.

[@tommybingbong]

i dont think anything is meant to be

[@1C3CR34M]

Lmao yeah make the streets even more dangerous

[@Tacobellsucks19]

Leaving your lights on is a good security measure. Although motion lights are best

[@Voskaine]

Ya our society can’t be trusted without all the night time lights being off

[@darkdiamonds4337]

The only reason they’re tuning it away, is because the astronomical amount of bugs compared to the amount of people using normal lights… it feels like a waste of time

[@careyjohnston4176]

As a gardener I can tell you that leaving lights on at night attracts more insects which causes damage to my plants . Don't leave your lights on .

[@V77710]

That is certainly the best option, but some people out there refuse, or sit on their porch at night etc, so still a good video

[@johnnym6256]

This should be a law honestly

[@EddyGames-md2yr]

Imagine. Bet you live in California

[@Slay_No_More]

Nah.

[@falcon6329]

i hate yellow lights

[@Antassium]

Braindead comment

[@petevenuti7355]

Red actually works better than yellow.

[@OnlyHumanOnce]

Am I the only one on team "Who gives a shit, they're bugs."?

[@Meraxes6]

You’re not the only one, but this is an ignorant take. Bugs are super important, giving in to your lizard brain’s fear of them is just weak

[@taylorward6241]

Probably not, but insects are so important to so many things that we take for granted that everyone would be worse off with fewer of them around. Tge vast majority of insects won't bother you or even been seen by people, but that small percentage that are able to survive and interact with people are the most annoying and unfortunately what most people think of as all insects. In fact the places where bugs are a problem/pests/infestations are areas where the majority of other insects, native plants, and habitat that would eat them/keep the population in check have been removed, like suburbs with big lawns and no trees. I have studied and experienced how there are very few ticks and mosquitos in tall grass prairies that have a good population of native plants, compared to the massive amount of ticks and mosquitos in well maintained lawns with only non native shrubs and trees. Worth looking into if you want to learn more about how helping insects can make your life easier with gardening/farming, lawn maintenance, and pest control while help the environment a little bit along the way.

[@johnunderwood1760]

@@Meraxes6"super important"... as food for other animals... so I dont care?😂 not gonna change my lifestyle for some dumb ass bugs, which literally multiply exponentially and wont matter🤣 just natural selection at that point

[@lul9435]

I think this is still a good idea, cuz when you go outside to take out the trash or let the dog out, you won't have a moth fly into your face or have them get into your house being annoying little shits.

[@JR-xk1rd]

your definitely not the only one... this guys talking bullshit

[@erikaerika7788]

Yes ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kubotwostringz7040]

Thank you, dear dude. I will happily spread the knowledge.

[@jonathonalsop2120]

I don't know anyone who still uses a bug zapper, but they should be banned. They attract insects via UV light, usually harmless/beneficial insects, while barely killing any mosquitoes.

[@jellysquidmcsquidjelly5945]

I learned this at the base of Crater Lake National park when i watched a bug zapper kill tons of cool native insects and zero mosquitos. Sigh.

[@GUILLOTINE_GANG]

I have always fuggin hated those things. My grandparents used them specifically to kill moths, thank goodness dinosaurs die.

[@real_smilegamez]

Mosquitoes are necessary

[@XDPK-zx1yv]

​@real_smilegamez im sure youll be glad to spend time with them then🙂

[@UngaBunga-mb7dv]

​@@jellysquidmcsquidjelly5945I like the sound it makes euphoria. Regardless , the only good insect is a dead one. (And dragon flies because they eat mosquitoes and have the HIGHEST hunting success rate of ALL ANIMALS, around 78% or something. )

[@abydosianchulac2]

We thought we came so far from sodium lamps, and we're right back where we started.

[@mungbean345]

Just what I was thinking, thanks to a recent Steve Mould short about sodium lights. 😄

[@kona702]

I've been noticing as each sodium light goes out, they replace it with a bright LED that makes it so I can barely see the road at night because it's shining so bright in my face. On the highway on my way to work and I leave very early in the morning and they are blinding. I hate them. I love the old sodium vapor street lamps. It reminds me of childhood.

[@petevenuti7355]

​@@kona702And the bright blue signage is downright painful!

[@MazerTime]

Im night blind, so not all lighting is enough light for me, but i will definetly give yellow light a try. Thanks!

[@Rocketsong]

Here is a better idea. Install a shielded Dark Skies compliant fixture so that the light only shines where you want it instead of creating glare. (then install a yellow bulb)

[@Sphyxx]

Oh so thats why they fly around lights

[@beansbutterreviewwagon2542]

I will turn off EVERY light I see it will be my life’s mission !

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

We must find and turn them ALL OFF!

[@psychoinferno4480]

Some random robbers: hey this house has no lights on, maybe no one's home

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

@@psychoinferno4480 motion sensor lights!

[@psychoinferno4480]

@@Andrew_the_Arborist some random robbers: oh shit, no w8 motion sensor lights. Maybe someone is home, nah let's not risk it

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

@@psychoinferno4480 That'll scare 'em away! Lol

[@DrTHC]

I have a WiFi led color-changing bulb instead... There are several colors that don't attract bugs, and I like to be able to change it.

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

Cool! That's a good idea.

[@patrickc1508]

You would get more attention with “Are you tired of having bugs attracted to your lights? These bulbs won’t attract them as much!” Most people don’t like bugs. They’re more likely to try to try to kill them than to ever help them. If you want them to help bugs, you should try the “This will help you” approach instead of “This will help bugs” approach. It will do both, but hardly anyone cares about helping bugs. It’s no different than marketing energy efficiency as “green” when it should be marketed as “energy cost saving”. Play to the audience.

[@darekcosta3819]

Too bad almost every HOA in America requires you to have from porch lights that turn on at a certain time every night. RIP to the bugs

[@seajelly2421]

What do you think of those mosquito traps that lure insects using light? I've seen them with white or blueish purple bulbs. The traps fill so quickly with moths and spiders (persuing the moths, I presume), it's hard to tell if there are any mosquitos inside. But people swear they work. Tbh I'm concerned about the downstream effects of trapping so many moths.

[@didybopintitys]

Anyone else see the skull and devil horns on the back of the bug when he says the word glass, pretty dope looking

[@MrPuup]

Gr8 idea!

[@mjb405]

Theyre also not as harsh on the eyes as white lights tend to be

[@Nobodyfukoff]

Dont worry, my spiders will take care of them.

[@sallymay3643]

Interesting ✌️🇺🇸

[@makehimproud114]

We put the lights on at night outside our home to have a chance at preventing destructive wild hogs from causing damage. They don't get deterred much by that, but still we i think it is a little bit helpful.

[@icejackalgodofmetal14]

Huh So that's why I see a few houses using yellow bulbs Even green and blue bulbs Always thought it was a aesthetic choice I didn't know it was practical That's neat

[@ralanham76]

They work, (edit,lower wattage helps too ) My Mom used yellow lights when I was a kid. And now I've had incandescent fluorescent and now LED yellow bulbs. I mainly did it so there isn't a thousand mosquitoes on my front door that get pulled in by the air when you move the door 😁

[@happy_bubble7]

I switched to yellow out here on southerm US. Still getting skeeter eaters, flies, wasps and skeeters. Please advise. My light needs to be on.

[@patchescoleman4228]

The main thing im worried about is when they fly in the door when you open it

[@joeslinky]

Do you think I give a shit about insects?

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

You should, considering they support our entire way of life. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to survive. If you can put your ignorance aside for 5 minutes, read this: entomology.unl.edu/scilit/benefits-insects

[@johnsky1009]

So the bugs use to chaise the moon 😂

[@miguelmedina1991]

No, Force them to evolve.

[@SnowingNapalm]

solar powered lighting also saves from excess waste energy from the grid motion sensors are pretty good though controlling how much power gets sent to the bulb only requiring a fraction of the energy itself

[@shaunt7175]

Could you not put yellow light in-between fields of flower to encourage night pollination.

[@ToxicMothBoi]

Waiting for the "but i only like white and blue light" comments like its healthier for you when its the complete opposite

[@randythomas90]

While were here how do bugs get inside the light ?

[@kepler180]

my parents yelled at me for messing with the outdoor lighting because i was trying to save the fireflies and moths. i still do it all the time but they haven’t figured out its me again 🤭 update: I got in trouble and my mom yelled at me

[@Wolfspaine7N6]

Parents can be stubborn just to be stubborn.

[@Jim-qz6vp]

​@@Wolfspaine7N6 it's to prevent break-ins, the bugs are less important than their entire life's work.

[@Wolfspaine7N6]

@@Jim-qz6vp what? The color of your light bulb?

[@kepler180]

@@Jim-qz6vp we have an advanced alarm system and all our doors are locked at night

[@kepler180]

@@Jim-qz6vp we have an advanced alarm system connected to all the doors and windows. We also live in a nice neighborhood and always have our doors locked at night and usually during the day

[@LuminousSpace]

the thing is.... i had to open windows and lamp inside room at same time... if i didnt do that my room can reach 40c+++ and i dont want to turn on ac either, cause it is just too expensive for me.... insect net almost next to nothing and they got eaten by geckos

[@technodude]

That light is suspiciously way too yellow at the end

[@Starwarsfearsome]

But also the lights attract the moths and they lizards and green tree frogs hang around to eat the insects. So it’s ok then?

[@Flurrppppp]

As opposed to outdoor lights during the day?

[@SaidAlSeveres]

I honestly never knew that.

[@Raven74408]

Sooo I imagine it's especially not good to have one of those bug zappers outside? 👀

[@ciaragarrity6425]

I don’t know about yellow lights. For me, green lights work best with not attracting bugs, I have lights that can change colors, so I’ll try it. Orange and green are said to be less attractive to wildlife.

[@petevenuti7355]

Yellow isn't always yellow, get a red LED, it attracts the least.

[@DanielMWJ]

Red outdoor lights attract the other kinds of buggers.

[@SassfrasMan]

What's the best light bulb to kill the most amount of bugs?

[@VyvienneEaux]

I like to use exclusively UVA lights outside at night

[@eastafrica1020]

My DDT sprinklers come on at night to wipe out bugs and mosquitoes. The arch enemies of all humans.

[@jcb5942]

I have blue zapper lights set up outside because are mosquito population is a problem. It was so bad last year we have a major increase in mosquito hawk (crane fly) this year. Unfortunately my lights kill moths and some other things but it’s largely mosquito.

[@CRBungalow]

Houses with major outdoor all night lighting are popping up in my neighborhood and i hate it. Maybe I'll go leave these on their porches.

[@blindmown]

Maybe that's a really creepy thing to do to your neighbours and you should leave them alone. You don't have any authority to tell (or even suggest) a change in someone else's fully legal behaviour and to think you do just shows the abject lack of anything important going on in your life.

[@theeightysixedendtimes5944]

Replace with a bug zapper and hang over your pond at night.. free fish food

[@zz9shepherd]

It’s so funny that the bright led they made us use fuck up the environment more directly by killing and confusing them, then the old bulbs that took more electricity

[@shioq.]

won't somebody PLEASE think of the pests!

[@georgewills-ek1gg]

LPS lamps are also great.

[@sponsors_not_included]

Good

[@greyecologyst4694]

Motion activated, smart bulbs, or lights on a timer.

[@NPC-iy5ih]

Which lights do the most kills?

[@ChIGuY-town22_]

Home security vs. saving bugs. I live in the city, there's no point.

[@juliusfucik4011]

I have never had any light on the outside of my house. I don't see the point of it.

[@BluewaterBottoms]

This is Dyna Glo's exact opposite business model.

[@hariharanb785]

Ok. Night vision goggles for all.

[@anuradhapriyankara5226]

Bloody mosquitoes still didn't adapt that technique

[@That_Squatch]

This is another reason i absolutely despise the new streetlights go back to the good orange glow the blue/white spectrum is bad for humans and other living beings. The warm color spectrum on the other hand is good for us.

[@Icy_Money]

Who else thinks yellow light looks better than white?

[@everydayisearthday5500]

Tell this to the government who leaves all the lights on at night

[@monokheros5373]

waiting for the LPNa lamps to come back>> Low Pressure Sodium Lights ...

[@clapclapscream]

Why is insect death a bad thing?

[@tyrone6820]

I leave my 7 GIGANTIC bug zappers on 24/7 - 365 to eradicate any bugs that are attracted to light. Or the attractors I put in them

[@joaquindelgado8669]

Exactly, the bugs have plenty of population and flies and mosquitoes can all die if they wanna come even remotely close to me

[@rhsking05]

Wouldn’t red be the best?

[@DREDD_BOT]

I don't care so womp womp

[@mpc1mil]

save the insects? even ticks?

[@therealdonchelios]

Immediately turned the outside into a Michael Myers movie 😂

[@mcthunderstick2374]

I swapped out my lamps with those electric bug lamps that electrocute bugs by attracting them to land on it.

[@dust_gale3108]

You are saying like they are not going to die in a few weeks anyways 😂.

[@shioq.]

so now you can't actually see anything, but at least your house will be crawling with bugs.

[@taylorward6241]

Not if the lights arent attracting them to your door and beneficial insects are there to eat them

[@coltlyles3892]

I use red head lamps when I go hunting at night cause the deer can’t see red light and I see just fine with a red light