Outdoor solar lights

16 years ago

I wonder if anybody has noticed what I have.

I have a outdoor raised bed planted with bush beans, broccoli, strawberries (don't ask why) and basil. During the day I never see any bugs. When I check on my young plants in the morning, something ate half a leaf on a basil plant. The bush beans have more holes. Etc. One night I went out with my flashlight and caught an armyworm eating a bush bean plant. Kind of interesting because it must have migrated from the grass at that means it had to climb up 10" of cedar board to get to the plants.

I was at Home Depot and I bought two solar lights on sale and put them in the corners of the beds. The LED lights don't provide a whole lot of light. It was a whimsical purchase and I really didn't see a need for them. But since they have been in place, all the night time munching has stopped. I have noticed a lot more lizards.

Do the lights actually intimidate nighttime pests, or do you think the extra light at nights tips the balance to the predators?

Those who have lighted gardens, what is your observation? Are the plants more or less chewed upon by night visitors?

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Comments (8)

flora_uk
16 years ago
That's curious. I don't have either solar lights or lizards but I have seen how geckoes etc stake out lighting fixtures in the tropics and wait for the insects which are attracted by the light. Do you think that is what is happening in your garden? The light attracts bugs and the lizards just vacuum them up? Just a thought.
oilpainter
16 years ago
We have a streetlight on the corner of our lot. It is supposed to shine down the street but when they changed the pole 2 years ago the idiot that put up the light angled it toward our yard. There is plenty of light in our front yard but It has never deterred the night time feeders In fact I had a terrible time this year with earwigs in the bed that's closest to the light.

I tend to agree with flora that the light is tipping the scales in favor of the lizards--Nice,easy insect pest control!!
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greenie88
Original Author
16 years ago
My problem seems to be worms rather than bugs...and they wouldn't be attracted to lights. I just kind of wonder if that little bit of light is enough to scare them off since they prefer to dine in the dark. I have a 4x4 bed nearby but doesn't have lights--I just notice a WHOLE bean plant seedling was eaten. Might go out and buy some more lights.
taz6122
16 years ago
I'm sure it's a deterrent on night feeders but what are you doing to the plants? Some plants (like tomatoes) need their dark period and you could be disrupting that with the lights. Tomatoes are the only plant I've read about tests on but I'm sure there are others it will effect in a negative way.
greenie88
Original Author
16 years ago
I doubt I'm interrupting the plants that much. The light is very dim gets dimmer as the night progresses and the battery winds down. With longer nights/shorter days coming up and regular battery wear and tear, I wouldn't be surprised if by Spring I only get a few hours of light. It's far less light than say a street lamp or a wired landscape light. Think of a lit match. They really are only good for marking out paths so you see where your feet are going.
denninmi
16 years ago
Frogs always sit by the low voltage lights at the edge of my fish pond. The lights attract bugs, and the frogs have an easier time getting a meal. Probably the same thing happens with lizards. We don't have them here in Michigan, but I suspect it would (well, in theory, we have a couple of kinds of skinks, but I've never seen one).
t-bird
16 years ago
I want lizards!
noinwi
16 years ago
Toads hang out here under the street lights and near porch/entrance lights for their night time munchies.