Data from: Artificial light at night may decrease predation risk for terrestrial insects

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is thought to be detrimental for
terrestrial insect populations. Whilst there exists evidence for lower
abundance under ALAN, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. One mechanism
by which ALAN may contribute to insect declines may be through
facilitating increased predation. We investigated this by experimentally
manipulating insect-substitute abundance under differential levels of
light. We used insect-containing birdfeed placed at varying distances from
streetlights as a proxy for terrestrial insects, inspecting the rate of
predation before and after dusk (when streetlights are respectively off
and on). We found that there was a significantly greater effect of
increasing distance on predation after dusk, suggesting that predation was
actually reduced by greater levels of artificial light. This may occur
because ALAN also increases the vulnerability of insectivores to their own
predators. Implications for foraging behaviour and alternative
explanations are discussed.