Millions of people worldwide watched on as the Sydney Olympics came to a close in 2000. Meanwhile, thousands of bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) were airborne, making their annual migration to the Australian Alps.

These bogong moths swarmed in such large numbers that the rain radars showed a storm approaching Sydney. The bright lights of Stadium Australia, where the closing ceremony was unfolding, had lured them in.

As an entomologist, I’m fascinated by insects. This year, the bogong moth population has exploded along Australia’s east coast, with people discovering these insects in every nook and cranny of their homes.

The current resurgence offers scientists valuable information about the health and abundance of the bogong moth population. But they aren’t the only insects worth watching.

Bogongs bouncing back

Bogong moths are small, brown insects that typically fly at night. Each year, they embark on a magical migration, travelling up to 1,000 kilometres across Australia.

By following the stars, they are able to navigate to the cool caves of the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales, where they shelter during the sweltering summer. These moths then return to inland Australia to mate, lay eggs and repeat this migratory cycle.

In recent decades, the bogong moth........

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