The festival of lights

Come in and take a look at my world — the world of Max, the moth. Here, in this luminous arena of the night, begins my very own story, one of danger and nighttime wonder.

The caption “moth” suits me perfectly, it is a living testament to my activities in the darkness that I share with many of my fellow invertebrates. While humanity is lost in slumber, I unfurl my wings, drawn by a mysterious and irresistible force: light. This strange attraction to light sources is my own personal vice, a fascinating enigma that never fails to captivate me. It feels like a call I can’t resist, as if an invisible hand is leading me there.

And I am far from the only one who feels this way. Many of my fellow species, and even my distant insect relatives, are equally drawn to this mysterious pull of light. It’s as if we all have the same inner voice telling us: “Don’t miss the best party of the night!” But on this particular night, I come across something completely unexpected.

As I glide through the cool air, I discover a scene that takes my breath away. A massive toad, covered in thick warts, sits under a lantern. It looks lethargic, but its eyes are alert. The sight triggers a mixture of disgust and fascination in me. In a moment of realization, I become aware of the situation. This toad, a master hunter, has turned the light source into its insidious trap. Without much effort, it snatches up my unsuspecting friends, who, blinded by the light, fly straight into its misfortune.

I try to warn my companions, calling out to them to turn back, but for many my warning comes too late. Some are devoured by the toad, others become entangled in the spider webs artfully woven around the light source. This place, which was once a safe haven in the darkness, has turned into a battlefield of survival.

Such light traps used to be rare, but today they are almost everywhere, a by-product of human progress that has fundamentally changed our nighttime existence. For many of us a deadly fate, for others a chance to survive. Despite the risks, the lights continue to have an irresistible attraction for me, a fascination that makes me a wanderer between caution and curiosity.

At the end of an eventful night, I witness the early birds gathering for breakfast — the next threat. But I have experienced enough for today. Thus ends my nocturnal journey, a vivid example of life’s unpredictable twists and turns and a testament to the breathtaking complexity of our world.

I, Max, a simple moth, stand at the center of these wonders, a silent observer and participant in this thrilling theater of nature.