The Bogong Moth ()

The Bogong Moth

The Bogong moth is one of the most interesting insects in Australia.  It has a brown to black body with a wingspan of up to 5 centimeters, (2 inches).  It can be recognized by the unique markings on its wings. It has a dark arrow shaped spot, a dark comma shaped spot and a lighter spot all on the top two wings.  The bottom two wings are a lighter beige color with a dark brown trim.  The moth's life story is actually very captivating.  The eggs are laid at the base of plants in New South Wales and Queensland.  Four weeks later a light brown to black coloured caterpillar breaks out of the egg.  It hides during the day in the soil or under fallen leaves and plants and feasts at night.  Farmers consider these caterpillars pests and have named them cutworms because they cut pieces of plants to bring them in their homes to eat.  Their diet varies between cereals, peas, cauliflower, cabbage and alfalfa.  These caterpillars grow to be about 5 centimeters, (2 inches), long and then form a cocoon around themselves in the homes they have made for themselves.  After four more weeks the moth finally emerges from the cocoon. 

When the summer months are just around the corner the moths decide that it is time to migrate to a cooler environment.  They start a journey of up to 3 000 kilometers, (1865 miles), to caves in the Australian Alpes. Tens of millions of these moths together start their journey together.  There have been problems in cities that are on the flight path.  It seems that since the moths fly at night each time they come upon a city the moths confuse the city lights with the sun rising and swarm the cities trying to find dark hiding places. Entire walls of buildings are covered in moths.  Eventually they find their way to the Alpes where they spend the summer months huddled on walls and floors of caves.  Many animals come to these caves during those months, as the aboriginals had done before, to feast.  The moth's body is 60% fat and very nutritious.  It is because of this fat in their bodies that the moths can migrate without even feeding once.  When the summer months are over the survivors make their way back to the plains to lay their eggs and then die so that the cycle can start all over again. 

Further Information on the Bogong Moth:

Bibliography:

http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/larvae/noct/infusa.html
http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/november2002/default.htm
http://www.ento.csiro.au/Ecowatch/Primary/butterflies/pages/agrotis_infusa.htm
http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/bogong_moths.htm
http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=204
http://www.aph.gov.au/LIBRARY/pubs/RB/2005-06/06rb05.pdf