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How can you tell a Bogong moth?

How can you tell a Bogong moth?

Adult bogong moths have an overall dark brown colouration, with a dark stripe interrupted by two light-coloured spots on the wings, distinguishing it from other moths.

Are Bogong moths pests?

Caterpillars of the Bogong Moth are known as cutworms and are considered an agricultural pest, causing significant damage to crops.

What eats the Bogong moth?

The main predators of estivating Bogong moths are Little ravens, Bush rats, Richard’s pipits and Red foxes (Green, 2003, 2011). Based on published and estimated densities of these and other known predators of Bogong moths, Green (2011) calculated the intake of Bogong moths as food.

How do I get rid of Bogong moths?

At this time of year it is best to keep all the windows closed and if you are unfortunate enough to get a Bogong moth infestation a light spray on the walls and floors with a synthetic pyrethrum is enough to rectify the issue.

What happened Bogong moths?

Bogong moth populations have been in steady decline since 1980. The 2017 summer saw an alarming crash. The population decrease was caused by the summer drought in the Western Plains where juvenile larvae growing in the cracked clay of the desert soil weren’t able to get the nutrients they needed from plant matter.

How many Bogong moths are there?

Around two billion moths are estimated to make the journey. The ecologist Dr Ken Green has been monitoring bogong moths for 40 years.

What are big moths called?

The title for largest moth in the world is split between two different species: the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) and Thysania agrippina, which is commonly known as the great owlet or white witch moth.

Why are Bogong moths disappearing?

Numbers of unique Australian moths that migrate in their billions to alpine areas have crashed, ecologists say, putting extra pressure on the endangered mountain pygmy possum. Scientists believe the “astonishing” drop in bogong moth numbers is linked to climate change and recent droughts in areas where the moths breed.

What is special about moths?

Adult moths and their caterpillars are food for a wide variety of wildlife, including other insects, spiders, frogs, toads, lizards, shrews, skunks, bats and birds, therefore they are of high value in food webs. Moth species have an incredible diversity of life history requirements.