New research: Bogong moths

Bogong moths use stars as a compass at night for long-distance migration

Each year, Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) migrate up to 1,000 km to reach cool, alpine caves they haven’t never visited before, where they aestivate over the summer. A new study by researchers, including AIAS member Ken Green, has revealed that these moths rely on the night sky as a compass, using stars to navigate with remarkable precision.

Even when their magnetic sense was disabled, the Bogong moths still oriented themselves in the correct migratory direction under natural night skies. By tracking brain activity, researchers discovered that specific visual neurons responded to the rotation of the stars, helping the moths stay on course. This discovery reveals the remarkable navigational abilities of Bogong moths as they traverse the Australian Alps.

You can find out more by reading the NewScientist article or listening to the NaturePodcast.

Read the Nature paper here: Dreyer, D., Adden, A., Chen, H. et al. Bogong moths use a stellar compass for long-distance navigation at night. Nature 643, 994–1000 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09135-3