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Protecting the night shift: 3 things you can do to protect nocturnal pollinators during Pollinator Week

Common Long-tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina) adult feeding from flower nectar in Costa Rica.

When we think of pollinators, bees and butterflies often come to mind. But around the world, an equally important team gets to work, especially after sunset.

Moths, bats, beetles, and other nocturnal pollinators help plants reproduce, support healthy ecosystems, and contribute to biodiversity across continents. In fact, pollination does not stop when the sun goes down. Many plants depend on nighttime visitors to carry pollen through the darkness.

A tiger moth rests on a pink hydrangea in a Canadian garden. Moths are important nocturnal pollinators, helping many plants reproduce under the cover of darkness.

Among these unsung heroes, moths play an especially important role. Research has shown that moths can be highly effective pollinators, visiting a wide variety of flowering plants while most of us are asleep. Yet artificial light at night can disrupt their navigation, feeding, and pollination behavior.

So how can we support nocturnal pollinators to do their important work?

  1. Use responsible outdoor lighting

Many pollinators rely on natural cycles of light and darkness to forage, rest, navigate, and reproduce. Artificial light at night can disrupt these behaviors, drawing insects away from habitats or interfering with their ability to find food and mates. Following DarkSky’s Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting can help create a healthier nighttime environment for both people and wildlife.

When lighting your garden and outdoor spaces:

  • Keep lights off whenever possible, especially around flower beds and natural areas.
  • Use warm-colored lighting (2700 K or lower) to reduce impacts on wildlife.
  • Direct light downward and shield fixtures to keep light out of pollinator habitat.
  • Use timers or motion sensors so lights are only on when they are truly needed.

A little more darkness can go a long way in helping moths and other nighttime pollinators thrive.

  1. Plant a pollinator-friendly garden 

One organization helping raise awareness about the importance of darkness for pollinators is Butterfly Conservation through its Moon Meadow initiative. A Moon Meadow is a garden, green space, or even a container planting designed to support nocturnal pollinators while embracing natural darkness. By choosing plants that bloom or release fragrance at night, you can create valuable habitat for moths and other nighttime wildlife.

Key principles of a Moon Meadow include:

  • Plant flowers that bloom in the evening or at night.
  • Choose pale or white flowers that are easier for nocturnal pollinators to see in low light.
  • Include fragrant plants that help attract moths and other nighttime insects.
  • Provide a variety of native plants that flower throughout the growing season.
  • Leave some areas of natural habitat, such as leaf litter or undisturbed vegetation, to provide shelter and breeding sites.
  1. Support dark-sky conservation in your community and beyond

Creating pollinator-friendly habitat at home is a great first step, but lasting change also happens at the community level. By supporting dark-sky conservation efforts, you can help protect the nighttime environment for pollinators, birds, bats, and countless other species that depend on natural darkness.

Here are a few ways to get involved:

  • Connect with a local DarkSky Chapter or Advocate to support responsible lighting efforts in your community.
  • Share what you’ve learned about light pollution and its impacts on wildlife with friends, neighbors, and local decision-makers.
  • Support DarkSky’s Action Fund, which helps advance projects that protect nighttime ecosystems and reduce light pollution in critical wildlife habitats around the world.

The night is home to an incredible diversity of life. Your support helps ensure that pollinators and other wildlife continue to thrive under naturally dark skies for generations to come.

A bat feeds on nectar from a blooming agave plant, pollinating the flowers that help sustain future generations of agave, including species used in tequila production, Southern United States.

The night is home to an incredible diversity of life. Your support helps ensure that pollinators and other wildlife continue to thrive under naturally dark skies for generations to come.

This National Pollinator Week, let’s celebrate the species that keep ecosystems thriving long after dusk. By protecting natural darkness, we can help ensure that moths, bats, beetles, and countless other nocturnal pollinators continue their vital work under the stars.

Want to help? Explore the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting and Butterfly Conservation’s Moon Meadow guide and consider how your home, garden, park, or community can become more welcoming to the night shift.