These Moths Are a Thrilling Sight in Australia

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1. 1h ago

   Endangered Bogong Moths Return in Massive Swarms Across Australia

   Endangered bogong moths are swarming across Australia, fluttering into homes and clogging the skies in a migratory spectacle not seen in nearly a decade. Hundreds of sightings have been reported across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria as the insects migrate toward the Snowy Mountains. Researchers are celebrating the massive surge, which signals a stunning recovery for a population that previously suffered a near-total collapse during severe droughts. Scientists attribute the sudden boom to cooler and wetter environmental conditions over recent years.

   Why it matters

   Bogong moth populations plummeted by up to 99.5 percent between 2017 and 2019 due to extreme drought conditions. Sightings of the endangered species have climbed steadily over the last two years, but researchers note that the scale of the current migration far surpasses previous observations. The return of the celestial navigators offers a major boost for local ecosystems and scientists studying the fragile species.

   What is confirmed

   • Endangered bogong moths are swarming across parts of Australia, including New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria.
   • Bogong moth numbers dropped by up to 99.5% between 2017 and 2019.
   • Wetter and cooler conditions are thought to be behind the recent surge in bogong moth populations.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The current year's migration has completely blown previous recent sightings out of the water.

   What to watch next

   • Monitoring the moths' arrival and survival rates in the Snowy Mountains.
   • Further scientific assessments on whether the population recovery will sustain itself long-term.
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. Newser — These Moths Are a Thrilling Sight in Australia
   2. The New York Times — Moth Swarms Sweep Across Australia. That’s Good News.
   3. People.com — Millions of Moths Are Swarming Australian Homes and Clogging the Skies. Here’s Why Researchers Are Celebrating
   4. yahoo.com — Return of swarming moth spectacle has Australia in a flutter
   5. The Guardian — ‘Every moth is precious’: why are there so many bogong moths, and how can you safely remove them from your home?
   6. The Guardian — ‘Thrilled’: huge swarms of bogong moths surprise NSW residents and may point to species’ recovery
   7. www.newser.com — These Moths Are a Thrilling Sight in Australia - Newser
   8. www.theguardian.com — ‘Thrilled’: huge swarms of bogong moths surprise NSW residents and may point to species’ recovery |....
   9. www.abc.net.au — Endangered bogong moths swarming into homes across NSW - ABC News
   10. thespinoff.co.nz — How to save the world with wonder | The Spinoff
   11. www.straitstimes.com — Bogong moths return in huge swarms across Australia | The ...
   12. www.sbs.com.au — Bogong Moths swarming the east coast are exciting ... - SBS
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