Light-pollution

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Actias
Moon Moths, Asian-American Moon Moths
Actias is a genus of Saturniid moths commonly known as moon moths, distributed across Asia and the Americas. The genus is distinguished by elongated hindwing tails and includes well-known species such as the Luna moth (A. luna) of North America and the Spanish moon moth (A. isabellae) of Europe. Adult moths lack functional mouthparts, limiting their lifespan to several days to one week after emergence. Caterpillars feed on leaves of various woody plants including sweetgum, pine, hickory, walnut, and birch.
Saturniidae moon-moth tailed-hindwings nocturnal non-feeding-adult light-pollution forest-moth
Actias luna
Luna Moth, North American Luna Moon Moth
Actias luna, the Luna moth, is a large, lime-green saturniid moth native to North America, recognized as one of the continent's most visually striking insects. Adults possess a wingspan reaching up to 114 mm (4.5 inches), with distinctive elongated hindwing tails and prominent eyespots that may confuse predators. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: males have highly feathery antennae for detecting female pheromones, while females have slender antennae and larger abdomens. Larvae feed on a variety of broadleaf trees including sweetgum, hickory, walnut, birch, and sumac. The moth is univoltine in northern portions of its range, with larvae overwintering in leaf-litter-camouflaged cocoons before emerging as adults in spring; southern populations may produce two or three broods annually.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth green-moth eyesopts univoltine light-pollution non-feeding-adult folivorous-larva Nearctic forest-insect educational-insect folklore-insect
Bicellonycha
Bicellonycha is a genus of fireflies (Lampyridae) comprising more than 40 described species. Species within this genus exhibit diverse ecological tolerances, with some such as B. lividipennis showing adaptation to artificial night lighting and anthropogenic disturbance, while others including B. wickershamorum face conservation threats and have been petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The genus occurs primarily in the Americas, with documented presence in Brazil and the United States.
fireflies bioluminescence light-pollution conservation bioindicator Lampyridae Photurinae Neotropical Nearctic
Eacles imperialis nobilis
Texas Imperial Moth
Eacles imperialis nobilis is a variety of the Imperial moth, commonly known as the Texas Imperial Moth. As a member of the giant silk moth family Saturniidae, it is a large, nocturnal species with vestigial adult mouthparts and larvae that feed on diverse woody vegetation. The variety designation suggests geographic differentiation within the broader Eacles imperialis complex, which ranges from Canada to Argentina. Like other Imperial moth populations, this variety faces threats from light pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides, and introduced parasitoid flies.
saturniidae giant-silk-moth imperial-moth light-pollution nocturnal forest texas soil-pupation declining conservation-concern
Eacles imperialis pini
Imperial moth (pini subspecies), pine-feeding Imperial moth
Eacles imperialis pini is a subspecies of the Imperial moth, a giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae. This subspecies is notable for its association with pine and other coniferous trees as larval hosts, distinguishing it from nominate populations that feed primarily on deciduous trees. Adults are large, visually striking moths with yellow and purple-brown patterning. The subspecies occurs in North America, with documented populations on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where it has persisted while other Imperial moth populations in New England have declined or been extirpated.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth conifer-specialist light-pollution conservation Martha's-Vineyard pine-feeder subterranean-pupation
Operophtera
winter moths
Operophtera is a genus of geometrid moths comprising approximately four recognized species, including the economically significant winter moth (O. brumata) and Bruce spanworm (O. bruceata). The genus is notable for its unusual winter-active adult phenology, with adults emerging and mating during cold months when most other Lepidoptera are dormant. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, with O. brumata established as an invasive defoliator in North America. The genus has become a model system for studying hybrid zone dynamics, as O. brumata and O. bruceata form a documented clinal hybrid zone in the northeastern United States.
Geometridae winter-moth invasive-species defoliator hybrid-zone winter-activity phenology biological-control light-pollution
Photinus consanguineus
double cousin firefly
Photinus consanguineus, commonly known as the double cousin firefly, is a species of firefly in the genus Photinus found in eastern North America. Like other Photinus species, adults produce bioluminescent flashes through a chemical reaction involving luciferin and luciferase. Males fly and emit characteristic flash patterns to locate sedentary females, which respond with their own flashes to facilitate mating. The species faces threats from light pollution, habitat destruction, and lawn insecticides.
firefly bioluminescence Coleoptera Lampyridae eastern-North-America light-pollution conservation nocturnal mating-signals
Photinus ignitus
Ignited Firefly
Photinus ignitus is a North American firefly species distinguished by its bioluminescent courtship displays. Males produce characteristic flash patterns to attract females, who respond from perches in vegetation. Research has documented seasonal plasticity in female mate choice behavior, with females becoming less selective as the breeding season progresses. Like other Photinus species, it produces defensive compounds called lucibufagins that protect against predators.
firefly bioluminescence mate-choice seasonal-plasticity nuptial-gift aggressive-mimicry Lampyridae Coleoptera North-America flash-communication lucibufagin sexual-selection operational-sex-ratio cold-light photocytes luciferin luciferase nocturnal courtship predation-defense insect-decline light-pollution habitat-loss insecticide-exposure soil-dwelling-larvae glowworm predatory-larvae soft-bodied-prey snails slugs worms soil-insects biological-control flash-pattern female-choice male-choice body-size lantern-size reproductive-investment egg-provisioning spermatophore flash-signal mating-success selectivity breeding-season dusk night vegetation grass lawns forests fields edges canopy airspace Columbia-Maryland Washington-Baltimore-area University-of-Virginia-study light-pollution-impact mating-disruption urbanization residual-insecticides lawn-treatment weather-cycles food-availability larval-predation population-fluctuation banner-year spectacle July-4th Independence-Day Mother-Nature's-fireworks pyrotechnic twinkling galaxy cold-light-efficiency no-heat-production photocyte-cells specialized-light-organ terminal-abdominal-segments lightly-colored giant-eyes flash-detection visual-acuity nocturnal-vision chemical-ecology defensive-chemistry steroidal-pyrones toad-toxins spider-repellent bird-repellent femme-fatale predatory-exploitation chemical-acquisition defense-sequestration nuptial-feeding reproductive-success sexual-conflict flash-manipulation photographic-challenge flash-recharge female-contortion flash-directionality aimed-signal male-expendability female-investment offspring-production battery-life conservation-concern population-monitoring citizen-science Boston-Museum-of-Science firefly-data-project Allegheny-National-Forest synchronous-fireflies Photinus-carolinus Photuris-pennsylvanica Pennsylvania-Firefly-Festival FIRE-Team Lynn-Faust Sara-Lewis Thomas-Eisner Aerial-Firebaugh Kyle-Haynes chemical-ecology-pioneer experimental-study field-observation natural-history behavioral-ecology ethology journal-article peer-reviewed-research scientific-investigation insect-conservation nocturnal-insect beetle soft-winged-beetle not-true-bug not-fly Elateroidea Polyphaga Elateriformia Lampyrinae Lucidotini accepted-name Fall-1927 36-observations iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI Wikipedia Bug-of-the-Week Entomology-Today incomplete-information data-limited research-opportunity further-study-needed
Photinus scintillans
Pale Firefly
Photinus scintillans is a species of firefly in the family Lampyridae, commonly known as the Pale Firefly. Like other Photinus species, adults produce bioluminescent signals through a chemical reaction involving luciferin and luciferase. Males fly and emit characteristic flash patterns to attract females, which remain stationary in vegetation and respond with their own signals. The species is subject to predation by Photuris fireflies, which mimic their flash patterns to lure and consume males.
bioluminescence firefly predatory-larvae light-pollution nuptial-gift aggressive-mimicry
Photinus tenuicinctus
thinly-girdled firefly, Ozark spark
Photinus tenuicinctus is a firefly species endemic to the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Adults measure 8.5–11.5 mm in length. Males are fully winged and capable of flight, while females are brachypterous and flightless. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in both morphology and bioluminescent signaling.
firefly bioluminescence sexual-dimorphism brachyptery endemic Ozarks Lampyridae Coleoptera cold-light nuptial-gift aggressive-mimicry Photuris light-pollution habitat-specialist
Pyractomena linearis
Marsh Gray Firefly
Pyractomena linearis is a firefly species in the beetle family Lampyridae, described by LeConte in 1852. It is a wetland specialist with a broad but sparsely documented range across the northern United States and southern Canada. The species faces documented threats from habitat destruction and light pollution. Recent observations are scarce despite its extensive historical range.
firefly beetle wetland threatened light-pollution North-America
Pyractomena marginalis
Marginal firefly
Pyractomena marginalis is a species of firefly in the beetle family Lampyridae, described by Green in 1957. It is native to North America with a historically scattered distribution across the eastern United States, from eastern Texas north to southern Maine. Recent observations suggest the species has become restricted primarily to the Appalachian Mountains, though uncertainty persists due to identification difficulties and lack of comprehensive surveys. The species faces potential threats from light pollution.
firefly Lampyridae Coleoptera North-America threatened light-pollution Appalachian-Mountains
Rothschildia lebeau
Lebeau's Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau is a giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, distributed from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species exhibits a life history tradeoff between larval survival and adult body size based on host plant quality, with larger males showing higher mating success.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae host-plant-tradeoff sexual-selection tropical-dry-forest Barro-Colorado-Island pheromone-communication non-feeding-adult complete-metamorphosis cultural-significance indigenous-use cocoon-harvesting mating-success body-size-dimorphism seasonal-variation microbial-associations protistan-diversity caterpillar-microbiome herbivore forest-ecology Neotropical Mexico Central-America South-America Panama Costa-Rica Brazil Texas Rio-Grande-Valley exhibit-species butterfly-house education conservation light-pollution suburban-sprawl introduced-parasites rearing cottage-industry vestigial-mouthparts fat-reserves short-lived-adult female-sedentary-behavior male-dispersal oviposition-site-selection fitness-consequences life-history-evolution quantitative-genetic-variation wet-season-phenology developmental-plasticity survival-size-tradeoff herbivore-performance plant-animal-interactions microbial-observatory molecular-characterization eukaryotic-microbiome saturniid-caterpillar Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Rothschildia Guérin-Méneville-1868 Attacus-lebeau Lebeau's-Silk-Moth Forbes-Moth Rothschildia-lebeau-forbesi windows transparent-wing-patches scale-less-wing-areas antennae sexual-dimorphism mate-choice sperm-competition reproductive-success larval-performance caterpillar-growth pupal-development adult-emergence longevity predation bat-predation nocturnal crepuscular moth silkmoth silkworm giant-moth forest-moth tropical-moth Neotropical-fauna biodiversity insect-collection museum-specimen Bohart-Museum American-Museum-of-Natural-History entomology lepidopterology systematics taxonomy natural-history field-study observational-study experimental-ecology evolutionary-ecology behavioral-ecology population-biology community-ecology ecosystem-function food-web trophic-interaction herbivory folivory tree-insect-interaction phenology climate-effects seasonality environmental-variation habitat-heterogeneity host-race ecotype local-adaptation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-variation quantitative-trait trade-off allocation reproductive-allocation parental-investment offspring-size offspring-number optimal-clutch-size mate-competition intrasexual-selection intersexual-selection ornament signal chemical-communication olfaction sensory-ecology foraging movement-ecology dispersal migration home-range activity-pattern diel-cycle circadian-rhythm photoperiod temperature humidity rainfall precipitation dry-season wet-season tropical-seasonality El-Niño climate-change global-warming habitat-disturbance forest-fragmentation deforestation agricultural-expansion urbanization conservation-biology threatened-species common-species population-decline extinction-risk protected-area national-park biological-reserve research-station Smithsonian-Tropical-Research-Institute Barro-Colorado-Island-Nature-Monument Gatun-Lake Panama-Canal Isthmus-of-Panama Central-American-isthmus land-bridge biogeography vicariance dispersal-limitation species-range range-expansion range-contraction range-shift poleward-shift elevational-shift altitudinal-gradient latitudinal-gradient thermal-tolerance desiccation-resistance water-balance physiological-ecology metabolic-rate energetics nutritional-ecology stoichiometry nitrogen phosphorus carbon plant-secondary-metabolite tannin alkaloid terpenoid defense induced-defense constitutive-defense herbivore-offense counter-adaptation coevolution evolutionary-arms-race phylogenetic-constraint phylogenetic-signal comparative-method phylogenetic-comparative-analysis trait-evolution reproductive-strategy iteroparity semelparity big-bang-reproduction suicidal-reproduction capital-breeder income-breeder resource-acquisition resource-allocation storage fat-body lipid glycogen protein amino-acid vitamin micronutrient digestion gut-microbiome gut-flora intestinal-microorganism symbiosis mutualism commensalism parasitism pathogen disease immunity immune-response defense-mechanism resistance tolerance recovery survival mortality fecundity fertility sterility hybridization introgression gene-flow population-structure genetic-differentiation FST isolation-by-distance isolation-by-environment landscape-genetics landscape-ecology spatial-ecology geographic-information-system remote-sensing satellite-imagery habitat-suitability species-distribution-model ecological-niche-model MaxEnt BIOMOD ensemble-forecast climate-envelope niche-conservatism niche-evolution realized-niche fundamental-niche biotic-interaction competition facilitation apparent-competition indirect-effect trophic-cascade keystone-species ecosystem-engineer foundation-species dominant-species rare-species functional-diversity functional-trait trait-based-ecology community-assembly filtering sorting neutral-theory niche-theory unified-theory metacommunity metapopulation source-sink-dynamics rescue-effect mass-effect patch-dynamics landscape-mosaic connectivity corridor stepping-stone matrix-quality edge-effect interior-forest core-area buffer-zone fragment-size isolation perimeter-area-ratio shape-index fractal-dimension habitat-amount threshold-effect extinction-debt relaxation-time lag-effect time-delay historical-legacy founder-effect bottleneck genetic-drift inbreeding inbreeding-depression outbreeding outbreeding-depression heterosis hybrid-vigor genetic-rescue assisted-migration managed-relocation translocation reintroduction restoration-ecology habitat-restoration ecological-restoration rewilding de-extinction synthetic-biology conservation-genetics conservation-genomics population-genomics landscape-genomics environmental-DNA eDNA metabarcoding metagenomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics phenomics imaging computer-vision machine-learning artificial-intelligence deep-learning neural-network convolutional-neural-network recurrent-neural-network generative-adversarial-network transfer-learning data-augmentation training-set validation-set test-set cross-validation bootstrap jackknife permutation randomization Monte-Carlo Markov-chain Bayesian-inference posterior-probability prior-probability likelihood model-selection information-criterion AIC BIC DIC WAIC LOO model-averaging multimodel-inference structural-equation-model path-analysis causal-inference directed-acyclic-graph potential-outcomes propensity-score instrumental-variable regression-discontinuity difference-in-differences synthetic-control panel-data longitudinal-data time-series cross-sectional-data spatial-data spatiotemporal-data point-pattern areal-data geostatistics kriging variogram spatial-autocorrelation Moran's-I Geary's-c Getis-Ord-Gi LISA hot-spot cold-spot cluster-detection scan-statistic network-analysis graph-theory small-world scale-free-network centrality betweenness closeness eigenvector PageRank community-detection modularity clustering-coefficient path-length diameter radius percolation robustness resilience vulnerability adaptive-capacity transformability social-ecological-system complex-adaptive-system emergent-property self-organization nonlinearity threshold tipping-point hysteresis alternative-stable-state regime-shift critical-transition early-warning-signal resilience-indicator panarchy adaptive-cycle exploitation release reorganization fast-variable slow-variable controlling-variable driver pressure state impact response DPSIR ecosystem-service provisioning-service regulating-service cultural-service supporting-service natural-capital green-infrastructure nature-based-solution ecosystem-based-adaptation ecosystem-based-mitigation payment-for-ecosystem-service REDD+biodiversity-offset habitat-banking mitigation-hierarchy avoidance minimization restoration compensation no-net-loss net-gain biodiversity-metric condition-metric landscape-metric connectivity-metric genetic-metric functional-metric irreplaceability threat opportunity conservation-planning systematic-conservation-planning Marxan Zonation prioritization efficiency effectiveness equity stakeholder governance institution policy law regulation incentive market-based-instrument command-and-control voluntary-agreement certification eco-label sustainable-use sustainable-management adaptive-management learning-by-doing monitoring evaluation indicator target goal vision scenario projection forecast uncertainty risk precautionary-principle safe-minimum-standard environmental-impact-assessment strategic-environmental-assessment cumulative-impact-assessment social-impact-assessment health-impact-assessment life-cycle-assessment carbon-footprint water-footprint ecological-footprint material-flow-analysis substance-flow-analysis input-output-analysis environmentally-extended-input-output-analysis multi-regional-input-output-analysis computable-general-equilibrium integrated-assessment-model earth-system-model global-circulation-model regional-climate-model downscaling bias-correction ensemble-simulation perturbed-physics emulator surrogate-model reduced-complexity-model simple-climate-model integrated-earth-system-model socioeconomic-scenario shared-socioeconomic-pathway representative-concentration-pathway climate-scenario emission-scenario mitigation-scenario adaptation-scenario impact-scenario vulnerability-scenario risk-scenario resilience-scenario transformation-scenario sustainability-scenario narrative storyline pathway trajectory transition transformation decarbonization electrification renewable-energy energy-efficiency circular-economy green-economy blue-economy bioeconomy nature-economy natural-capital-accounting ecosystem-accounting environmental-accounting green-accounting inclusive-wealth genuine-progress-indicator happy-planet-index human-development-index sustainable-development-goals Agenda-2030 Paris-Agreement Convention-on-Biological-Diversity Aichi-targets post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework Kunming-Montreal-Global-Biodiversity-Framework 30-by-30 half-earth nature-needs-half rewilding-Europe rewilding-Britain rewilding-North-America Pleistocene-rewilding trophic-rewilding ecological-replacement taxon-substitution revival-biology molecular-de-extinction proxy-species gene-drive CRISPR genome-editing genetic-modification biotechnology nanotechnology information-technology global-positioning-system unmanned-aerial-vehicle drone satellite sensor camera-trap acoustic-monitoring citizen-science community-science participatory-monitoring traditional-ecological-knowledge indigenous-knowledge local-knowledge farmer-knowledge fishers-knowledge co-production-of-knowledge transdisciplinarity interdisciplinarity multidisciplinarity post-normal-science mode-2-science triple-helix quadruple-helix quintuple-helix open-science open-data open-access open-source FAIR-data findable accessible interoperable reusable data-management-plan metadata provenance quality-assurance quality-control validation verification uncertainty-quantification error-propagation sensitivity-analysis scenario-analysis Monte-Carlo-simulation Bayesian-belief-network influence-diagram decision-tree multi-criteria-decision-analysis cost-benefit-analysis cost-effectiveness-analysis multi-attribute-utility-theory game-theory mechanism-design incentive-compatibility revelation-principle social-choice-theory voting-theory fair-division institutional-design policy-design governance-design architecture polycentric-governance adaptive-governance collaborative-governance network-governance hierarchical-governance market-governance community-governance hybrid-governance meta-governance steering rowing regulatory-state enabling-state partner-state entrepreneurial-state innovation-state strategic-state developmental-state welfare-state green-state sustainable-state resilient-state smart-state digital-state platform-state algorithmic-state surveillance-state authoritarian-state democratic-state deliberative-democracy participatory-democracy direct-democracy representative-democracy liberal-democracy social-democracy green-democracy ecological-democracy biocracy ecofascism deep-ecology social-ecology ecofeminism environmental-justice climate-justice intergenerational-justice intragenerational-justice spatial-justice territorial-justice recognition-justice procedural-justice distributive-justice restorative-justice transformative-justice reparative-justice transitional-justice ecological-justice species-justice multispecies-justice more-than-human-justice anthropocene capitalocene plantationocene chthulucene symbiocene good-anthropocene bad-anthropocene great-acceleration great-divergence great-convergence great-transformation great-decoupling great-disruption great-moderation great-recession great-depression great-war great-famine great-migration great-replacement great-reset great-refusal great-enrichment great-leveling great-compression
Yponomeuta
Small Ermine Moths
Yponomeuta is a large genus of small moths in the family Yponomeutidae, comprising 103 described species. Commonly known as Small Ermine Moths, members of this genus are notable for their distinctive defensive behavior: several species emit warning clicks during flight to signal their unpalatability to bat predators. Research on Yponomeuta cagnagella has demonstrated rapid evolutionary adaptation to urban environments, with populations exposed to long-term light pollution showing reduced attraction to artificial light sources compared to those from dark areas.
acoustic-defense urban-evolution light-pollution bat-predation sexual-dimorphism-in-behavior
Yponomeuta cagnagella
Spindle Ermine, Spindle Ermine Moth
Yponomeuta cagnagella, the spindle ermine moth, is a small ermine moth in the family Yponomeutidae with a wingspan of 19–26 mm. Adults are white with distinctive black dot patterns on the forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is notable for its larval habit of producing extensive protective webbing on host plants and has been studied for urban adaptation to light pollution.
urban-evolution light-pollution silk-production pest-outbreaks genomic-model
Yponomeuta multipunctella
American Ermine Moth
Yponomeuta multipunctella, commonly known as the American Ermine Moth, is a small moth in the family Yponomeutidae. It belongs to a genus noted for larvae that construct communal silk webs on host plants. The species is recorded from the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. As a member of the Yponomeuta genus, it shares behavioral traits with related species, including flight-to-light behavior that has been demonstrated to vary under selection pressure from artificial light pollution.
moth urban-ecology light-pollution behavioral-evolution