Have you noticed more moths than usual lately?
If you live in Victoria or NSW, there’s a reason for that.
Experts have said strong winds have pushed bogong moths off course in their annual spring migration, bringing them towards more populated areas, including Sydney.
The species is listed as endangered, and is a critical food source for other endangered native animals.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Bogong moths are native to Australia, and are named after Victoria’s Bogong High Plains.
While they can be found in every state and territory (except the NT), they are known for their migration to the Australian Alps each September.
They are a key food source for the endangered mountain pygmy-possum, which wake up from hibernation in time for their arrival.
It’s estimated 99.5% of the moth population was lost to drought and fire from 2018 to 2021.
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They were listed as endangered in 2021.
2026 migration
This year, the bogong moths have been capturing more attention than usual, with large numbers in heavily populated parts of NSW and Victoria.
In particular, Sydney and the NSW South Coast have received more bogong visitors than previous years.
It’s recommended residents turn outdoor lights off where possible during the migration.
The bogongs will pass through over the next few weeks.
Tracker
In 2019, Zoos Victoria launched Moth Tracker, a citizen science project to help keep tabs on the bogongs.
Anyone can upload a sighting to the site, which verifies and maps out the moths’ appearances across Australia.
In 2025, around 1,400 submissions were made to the tracker, with Zoos Victoria able to verify more than 800 bogongs among them.
