“…and today we’re talking about a bug that dances by the light of the moon. But more on that later.”
It’s time to dive into the dark, daring, and downright dazzling world of the Bogong moth! This unassuming little night-flyer might look like a dusty brown speck, but it’s got a secret superpower that’ll make you rethink everything you know about moths. A tiny, winged wanderer, weaving through the Australian night, chasing celestial clues like a cosmic cowboy on a midnight cattle drive. This moth’s got more navigational know-how than your average bug, and it’s ready to go a wild ride through the skies. So, grab your telescope and join us as we unravel the mystery of the Bogong moth here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description
They feature distinctive black and white markings, including a small white spot on each forewing.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com.
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Wingspan: Adult Bogong moths have a wingspan of approximately 4 to 5 centimeters (1.6 to 2 inches).
Body Length: Their body length is typically 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches).
Larvae: The larval stage (cutworms) can grow up to 3 to 4 centimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) in length before pupating.
Body Length of the Bogong Moth
The Bogong Moth has a body length of 3 cm (1.18 inches). How many objects fit into the moth’s body length (if the object is shorter) or how many moths fit into the object’s length (if the object is longer)?
a) The length of a Tasmanian devil tooth
A canine tooth from a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), native to Tasmania, measures about 2 cm (20 mm or 0.79 inches) long for an adult.
b) The length of a boomerang from the Wurundjeri people
A traditional Wurundjeri boomerang, used by Indigenous people in Victoria, measures about 60 cm (0.6 meters or 23.6 inches) long, based on ethnographic records.
c) The length of a Sydney funnel-web spider
A Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus), found in New South Wales, has a body length of about 4.5 cm (45 mm or 1.77 inches) for a large female.
Question: How many fit into each body length comparison?
A) 2 Tasmanian devil teeth go into the body length of a Bogong Moth
B) 20.0 Bogong Moths go into the length of a Wurundjeri boomerang
C) 2 Bogong Moths go into the length of a Sydney funnel-web spider
Wingspan of the Bogong Moth
The Bogong Moth has a wingspan of 5 cm (1.97 inches). How many objects fit into the moth’s wingspan (if the object is shorter) or how many moths’ wingspans fit into the object’s length/diameter (if the object is longer)?
a) The diameter of an Australian 50-cent coin
An Australian 50-cent coin, used in the moth’s range, has a diameter of 3.16 cm (31.6 mm or 1.24 inches), per Royal Australian Mint specifications.
b) The length of a didgeridoo mouthpiece
The mouthpiece of a traditional didgeridoo, used by Indigenous Australians in northern Australia, measures about 10 cm (0.1 meters or 3.94 inches) in length, based on cultural artifact data.
c) The diameter of a Banksia flower spike
A flower spike from a Banksia serrata, a native Australian plant found in moth breeding areas, has a diameter of about 12 cm (0.12 meters or 4.72 inches).
Question: How many fit into each wingspan comparison?
A) 2 Australian 50-cent coins go into the wingspan of a Bogong Moth
B) 2.0 Bogong Moth wingspans go into the length of a didgeridoo mouthpiece
C) 2 Bogong Moth wingspans go into the diameter of a Banksia flower spike
Fast Facts
The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a nocturnal moth native to Australia, known for its remarkable long-distance migration and cultural significance.
Breeding: Moths breed in lowland grasslands, laying eggs in soil. Larvae feed on crops and native plants before pupating.
Aestivation Sites: In the Alps, they cluster in dense groups in cool, dark caves or rock formations, entering a dormant state to survive summer heat.
Adaptability: Their ability to migrate long distances and tolerate varied climates showcases their resilience, though they remain vulnerable to environmental changes.
Ecosystem Role: Bogong moths are a critical food source for native wildlife, including the endangered mountain pygmy possum, birds, and bats.
Major Fact: The Stars Remind Us that the Past Is Real
- Bogong moths are the first known invertebrates to use the starry night sky as a compass for long-distance migration, a feat previously attributed only to birds, seals, and humans.
- Each spring, these moths embark on a 620-mile (1,000 km) journey from southeast Australia’s plains to the Australian Alps, navigating to specific high-altitude caves for summer aestivation.
- They fly at night, using constellations and possibly the Milky Way to maintain a consistent migratory direction—south-southwest in spring, north-northeast in autumn.
- Researchers confirmed this stellar navigation using flight simulators under moonless skies, showing moths adjust their flight path when stars are rotated 180 degrees but lose orientation when stars are scrambled.
- This celestial compass is paired with their ability to sense Earth’s magnetic field, providing a backup if the night sky is cloudy.
- The moths’ tiny brains, smaller than a grain of rice, process these complex cues, showcasing remarkable neural efficiency.
- Their innate navigation is hardwired; newly emerged moths, with no prior experience or parental guidance, instinctively know their migratory route.
- This stellar navigation allows them to pinpoint specific caves above 1,800 meters in the Alps, where they aestivate in dense clusters of up to 17,000 per square meter.
- The ability to navigate using stars solves the problem of finding remote destinations over vast distances in complete darkness, ensuring survival in harsh summer conditions.
- This discovery opens new research avenues into how moths integrate stellar and magnetic cues and whether other nocturnal insects share this ability.
Ending
So crawl out of your cocoon, fix your eyes on the skies, and become a wayfinder like Moana the bogong moth here in LDT.