Bogong moths surge across Australia after decade-long collapse
Bogong moth populations have exploded along Australia's east coast this year, reversing a 99% decline between 2017 and 2019.
Bogong moths are small brown insects that travel up to 1,000 kilometres each year. Bogong moths navigate by starlight to reach the cool caves of the Snowy Mountains.
This year they have reappeared in remarkable numbers along the east coast after two years of high rainfall boosted breeding and feeding conditions. The population had fallen 99 per cent between 2017 and 2019 due to habitat loss, drought and climate change.
Citizen scientists can help by photographing bogong moths and uploading them to Moth Tracker or iNaturalist.
- up to 1,000 kilometres
- Annual migration distance
- 99% between 2017 and 2019
- Population decline
- Snowy Mountains cool caves
- Destination
- Sydney Olympics 2000 closing ceremony
- Historic gathering
Why it mattersUnderstanding whether insects are thriving or declining shapes how younger generations care about conservation. When people see insects vanishing, they understand why protecting them matters.
AustraliaAustralia's east coast is experiencing unusual abundance of bogong moths. The resurgence helps scientists track population trends that inform Australian conservation policy.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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