What is the Bogong moth?
The Bogong moth is a brown moth that migrates up to about 1,000 kilometres each spring from southeastern Australia's plains to cool caves in the Australian Alps, where it spends summer resting.
Billions of Bogong moths once made the journey each year, flying at night from breeding grounds in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In the mountains, they cluster on the walls of caves and rock crevices in huge numbers.
Research published in 2025 showed that the moths can navigate using the stars and Earth's magnetic field, the first insect known to use the stars for long-distance navigation.
Food for people and possums
For thousands of years, Aboriginal peoples travelled to the high country in summer to gather and roast Bogong moths, which are rich in fat. These gatherings were also important ceremonial occasions.
The moths are a vital food for the endangered mountain pygmy-possum, which feeds heavily on them before hibernating.
Bogong moth numbers crashed during the 2017-2019 drought, and the species was listed as endangered by the IUCN in 2021.
Did You Know?
In 2000, swarms of Bogong moths were attracted to the lights of Sydney's Olympic venues and Parliament House in Canberra.