Artificial light at night inhibits mating and may reduce survival in a nocturnal moth

Background Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a global change stressor that may be linked to insect population declines. For moths in particular, ALAN has been negatively correlated with species abundance. Moth species that are found in urban areas or along habitat edges may be particularly vulnerable to ALAN. Methods We tested the effects of ALAN on fall webworm ( Hyphantria cunea ) mating and survival by exposing fall webworm to ambient or ALAN treatments in an indoor greenhouse. We analysed our data with chi-square statistical tests and a power analysis. Results We found that ALAN significantly negatively affects fall webworm mating and had a marginally significant negative impact on fall webworm survival. Conclusions The effects of ALAN on moth mating are essential to understand as global change factors that reduce mating success may play an important role in purported insect population declines.