The great moth revival: how bogongs have bounced back
Bogong moth populations in eastern Australia have seen a dramatic recovery after a near-total collapse in 2017. Citizen science data indicates a significant resurgence of the species, which is vital to the ecosystem of the Australian Alps.
Why it matters
The recovery of the bogong moth is a positive indicator for biodiversity and demonstrates the effectiveness of citizen science in tracking environmental health.
Bogong moths gather around a streetlight in Wollongong. The insects are back in big numbers on Australia’s east coast, including in Sydney and Melbourne./iStockphoto Bogong moths gather around a streetlight in Wollongong. The insects are back in big numbers on Australia’s east coast, including in Sydney and Melbourne./iStockphoto The Crunch Insects Analysis The great moth revival: how bogongs have bounced back Nick Evershed This animated map shows the insect’s population exploding in Australia’s eastern states, with the endangered species coming back from the brink
If you live anywhere on the eastern side of Australia, you’ve probably noticed that bogong moths are back in a big way .
While we don’t yet have figures from ecologist-led surveys to compare with previous years, there is a wealth of data on the great moth revival being generated by citizen scientists across the eastern states.
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