Finding Darkness

We’ve lit up the night to the point where darkness itself is endangered. Finding Darkness takes you on a journey into the world of insects—tiny navigators bewildered by our obsession with brightness. From confused moths circling porch lights to entire ecosystems teetering because of our LED addiction, this post unpacks the insect apocalypse hiding in plain (fluorescent) sight.

Anindya Chaudhuri

4/18/20252 min read

When was the last time you truly saw night?

Not the fuzzy orange glow above the city. I mean real darkness—deep, silky, scattered with stars.

If you're squinting into memory’s void, you’re not alone. Darkness is disappearing. And strangely enough, that spells disaster for… bugs.

Yes, bugs.

Can We Find Darkness Again?

Yes, we can.

Cities are adapting: Warmer bulbs, Directional lighting, Motion sensors, and other modern solutions

Small tweaks, big results.

You can help too:

Switch porch lights to amber LEDs
Use light only when needed
Host a stargazing party instead of another scrolling marathon

Darkness isn't scary. It's rare. It's beautiful. It's necessary.

A Gentle Nudge

Our love for light might have pushed darkness—and insects—toward extinction.

But it’s not too late.
Darkness isn’t the enemy. It’s a habitat. A rhythm. A kind of magic.

So tonight, step outside.
Turn off the lights.
Look up.

The stars are still there. They’re just waiting for you to notice.

The Flip Side of Light

We adore illumination.
Streetlights, neon signs, screens everywhere—humans are basically moths with bank accounts.

And speaking of moths… they’re struggling.
That frantic spiral they do around your porch light? That’s not dancing. It’s distress.

To a moth, our LEDs are deadly siren songs. They're drawn in, disoriented, and often die circling fake moons they were never meant to find.

A Little Science (Pain-Free, I Promise)

Most nocturnal insects use the moon and stars to navigate.
Artificial light—especially cool-toned LEDs—completely messes with that.

They spiral endlessly. Burn out.
They become easy snacks for predators lurking near lit areas.

Insect populations have crashed by almost 40% globally in recent decades.
And light pollution is no longer an afterthought—it’s a smoking gun.

Why Should You Care?

Sure, bugs can be annoying.

But no bugs mean: No pollination, No fruit, No flowers, No coffee, and No functioning ecosystems!

Insects hold the food web together. And our quest to erase shadows is quickly unraveling it.

We didn’t mean to, but that’s the thing—light pollution is a quiet killer.

Written by Anindya Chaudhuri

Founder, Permaregen | Regenerative Designer | Educator