Millions of bogong moths have are descended on the suburbs. When will they leave?
In NSW, people are noticing bogong moths have been appearing in any crevice they can find, and staying far longer.
Residents in New South Wales may have noticed a large increase in bogong moths appearing in their homes and surrounding areas. As these moths migrate over a 1,000-kilometre stretch to cool mountain caves for summer hibernation, their numbers are at levels not seen in a long time. Lecturer Caitlyn Forster from the University of Sydney explained that factors such as artificial lights in urban areas, strong winds, and a generational shift in people's recollection of moths could contribute to this influx.
Dr Parrott from Zoos Victoria added that 99.5% of the bogong moth population has been decimated, making them difficult for younger generations to remember. Conservation efforts are underway, including tagging and tracking moths with citizen scientists, monitoring specific locations, and encouraging the public to report sightings and reduce unnecessary lighting.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
