Home / Science / Moths Take Flight: 10,000 Tagged in Alps Migration
Moths Take Flight: 10,000 Tagged in Alps Migration
16 Feb
Summary
- 10,000 bogong moths are being tagged in the Australian Alps.
- Citizen scientists will help track moths on their migration.
- The project aims to understand breeding grounds and routes.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, 10,000 bogong moths are being tagged in the Australian Alps to trace their hundreds-of-kilometres journey to breeding grounds. This ambitious project, inspired by monarch butterfly tracking, involves scientists and citizen scientists using small paper tags. The goal is to fill crucial knowledge gaps about the moths' breeding locations and migration paths. The bogong moth, listed as endangered globally since 2021, faces significant threats, making this research vital.
Researchers are carefully attaching tiny, confetti-sized tags to the moths' wings using eyelash glue. Each moth is temporarily cooled and anaesthetized to ensure the tagging process is safe and does not impact their behavior. Over ten days, a team of twenty individuals will conduct this laborious yet precise work. The public is encouraged to assist by spotting and reporting any tagged moths they encounter via bogong.org.
Citizen scientists, acting as "sentinels," will use bug lanterns at specific locations in southeastern states between March and May to monitor moths. Individuals like Louise Freckelton and Suzanne Newnham are participating, driven by a commitment to environmental conservation and a fascination with nocturnal ecosystems. Even a single sighting of a tagged moth could provide invaluable data for understanding this vital insect's life cycle.
