Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1770849

Bogong Moth

Agrotis infusa

Bogong moths undertake an astonishing nocturnal migration of up to a thousand kilometers each spring, navigating by the Earth's magnetic field and celestial cues to reach the cool granite boulders of the Australian Alps. Once in the high country, millions pack tightly into cave crevices to aestivate over summer, providing an essential pulse of lipid-rich energy for the alpine food web. As autumn approaches, surviving adults fly back down to the lowlands to mate, lay eggs, and complete their annual life cycle.

MigratoryNocturnalAlpine
Bogong Moth reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Eucalyptus nectar
  • Clover nectar
  • Capeweed
Predators
  • Mountain Pygmy Possum
  • Little Forest Bat
  • Pied Currawong
ThreatsSevere droughts, agricultural insecticides, climate warming in alpine aestivation sites, and artificial light pollution disrupting flight corridors.
HabitatsTemperate grasslands, agricultural pastures, and alpine granite caves and crevices.
Life spanAbout 1 year
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilyNoctuidae
  3. GenusAgrotis
  4. SpeciesAgrotis infusa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognized by dull dark brown to blackish forewings marked with two pale spots, paired with pale gray-brown hindwings.
Support conservation
Do not enter sensitive alpine roosting caves or handle resting clusters, allowing them to conserve essential energy for survival.
Responsible observation
  • Viewing Etiquette: Avoid disturbing aestivating clusters inside alpine caves, as breaking torpor drains vital fat reserves.
  • Light Management: Switch off bright outdoor lights along migration corridors during spring and autumn to prevent disorientation.
  • Observing Migrants: Look around illuminated stone walls and mountain summits during peak spring passage on calm, warm nights.
Related species
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Moonlight Marvels

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