Scientists tagged 14,000 endangered Australian moths; not one was found
Researchers tagged 14,000 endangered Bogong moths in Australia to track their migration patterns, but failed to recover a single tagged specimen. Scientists suggest the lack of data may indicate a larger population than expected or the use of unknown migration routes.
Why it matters
Understanding the migration of the Bogong moth is critical for conservation efforts, as the species has faced a 99.5% population decline due to climate change.
More than 14,000 Bogong moths were tagged in an unusual attempt to uncover the secrets of one of Australia’s most remarkable insect migrations. Researchers marked the endangered moths in the Snowy Mountains and hoped to track where they travelled after leaving their summer shelters. Some were marked with non-toxic paint, while others were fitted with tiny paper tags attached to their wings. According to ABC News, volunteers released the tagged moths around Mount Kosciuszko and used light traps to look for them as they moved through the region. Yet, despite the large number of insects tagged, not a single one has been found so far. Researchers say that may not necessarily mean the project failed.
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