So you think I’m being silly? A single bright light left on all night every night can kill thousands of insects. I have seen it happen so I know what I am talking about. Large cities have thousands, if not millions of lights of all kinds, consequently they will inevitably have an effect on surrounding areas. Large cities will have a greater effect than smaller ones, and the effect is greater if they are bunched together into conurbations. Lighting mainly affects those insects that are active at night. Those that are active in daytime are less likely to be affected, so obviously you will still see them, but if the lighting is really intense, they can be affected as well. Again I have seen this happen. We must never forget insects, as they play an invaluable role in the ecosystem. Not only do they function as pollinators for our crops, but they serve as decomposers and food for higher order consumers such as birds and small mammals. Regretfully, many of these are now in decline because they can’t obtain enough food, either for themselves or their offspring.
Yes, I do think it’s a silly proposition.
Open up Google Earth and look at all the undeveloped countryside. It’s ridiculous to think that the relative area of a city and its necessary lighting has any real effect on the worldwide ecosystem.
Insects are possibly the most successful division of animal in terms of reproduction and adaptability. When I install a light outdoors, I can come back the next day and indeed, there are lots of dead moths on the lens and on the ground near the fixture. I can clean them up and come back the next day, and there they are again. It never stops.
In the southern US, we actually install misting systems that create a perimeter around an area. These systems emit a pyrethrin fog periodically, in order to suppress the insect population- otherwise being outdoors would be unbearable. I wish lights were as effective as pyrethrin at killing mosquitoes, because business would be even better.
Your debate tactic is a losing one here. If you want to criticise lighting, do it from an energy use standpoint, or from a bad design standpoint. The insect angle is absurd.