Millions of Migrating Bogong Moths Return Across Eastern Australia

Bogong moths are making a remarkable population comeback across eastern Australia, filling skies and weather radars.

Bogong moths have experienced a massive population revival across eastern Australia as millions of the insects migrate south toward the alpine region for summer. The resurgence is visible on weather radar networks, where swarms are so dense they resemble rain storms. Citizen scientists are helping track the dramatic recovery of the endangered species after years of severe population declines.

• The destinationMigrating moths travel toward the Australian Alps every year to spend the summer months.
• The detectionWeather radars register dense insect swarms as precipitation events after nightfall.
• The data sourceEcologists rely heavily on community observers and citizen science projects to map the population rebound.