Overview
- A peer-reviewed field experiment at six railway platforms in Germany found 1800 K amber LEDs attracted roughly 40–44% fewer nocturnal flying insects than 4000 K white LEDs and 2000 K high-pressure sodium lamps.
- Researchers used multi-season trapping, AI image counts and DNA metabarcoding to measure numbers and species of insects collected in 2023–2024 under swapped lamp types and unlit controls.
- The reduction is linked to the amber LEDs’ narrow emission spectrum and near absence of short-wavelength blue light, which many nocturnal insects detect and are drawn to.
- All platform lights in the Westhavelland dark-sky reserve were switched to 1800 K LEDs after the study, but authors say wider rollout needs tests of species-level effects, non-flying taxa, and human-safety and visibility trade-offs.
- The research points to a practical, low-cost way to reduce one human pressure on insect declines, while urging further trials across habitats and studies of long-term ecological impacts.