Australian moth swarms delight scientists in stunning comeback

Sydney: Reports of moths invading people’s homes might not sound like good news, but in Australia this week, it’s a development that has delighted scientists.

The sight of bogong moths swarming through the skies was once common in New South Wales as the species migrated to the mountains in summer before returning to their lowland breeding grounds in autumn.

However, the insect’s population has fallen dramatically since the 1980s due to drought and warming temperatures. In 2021, it was listed as an endangered species.

Recent weeks have seen a huge resurgence. Footage posted online showed moths swarming people’s homes – a phenomenon scientists believe was made possible by a milder winter and more rainfall.

Prof Dieter Hochuli from the University of Sydney described the event as “one of the great animal migrations of the world.”

The comeback offers rare hope for the endangered species, whose epic annual migration had been in steep decline for decades.