Overview

• A field trial by the Leibniz IGB and Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe in three Baden-Württemberg nature reserves found that specially shielded LED fixtures cut insect attraction by roughly 50%.
• The new luminaires confine illumination to roads and footpaths, preventing light spill into adjacent habitats where nocturnal insects congregate.
• Researchers confirmed the retrofit also lowers artificial sky brightness and mitigates damage to nocturnal pollination and other ecosystem functions.
• While this study did not conclusively demonstrate added benefits from reduced color temperature, other research indicates warm-white or amber LEDs attract even fewer insects.
• Regional authorities are now preparing municipal-wide rollouts of low-temperature, shielded LED streetlights to balance nighttime safety with insect conservation.