Tagged bogong moths vanish, prompting new tracking approach by scientists

In February, scientists from Western Sydney University and Invertebrates Australia attached non-toxic paint and paper tags to more than 14,000 bogong moths hanging in Mount Kosciuszko caves, aiming to trace their seasonal migration. Volunteers monitored 50 custom light traps across the Snowy Mountains, yet no tagged moths have been recovered. Entomologist Eleanor Drinkwater suggested the missing tags could signal a healthier moth population and possibly different migration routes.

Although the tagged specimens remain elusive, iNaturalist has logged over 2,700 untagged sightings in the past year, up from just over 1,000 the year before. Researchers will use these observations to create heat maps and train AI models for future monitoring, and they hope to expand the trap network to 150 units next season.