Australian Moths Navigate Epic Migration Using Stars and Milky Way
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📰 The quick summary: Bogong moths navigate their impressive 1,000-kilometer migration by using stars and the Milky Way as celestial guides, providing new insights into insect navigation capabilities.
📈 One key stat: Bogong moths can navigate up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) during their migration, demonstrating remarkable navigation abilities for an insect with a tiny brain.
💬 One key quote: “This is a truly remarkable insect. It can make this incredible journey with a tiny brain and a small nervous system, and do it in two directions,” Eric Warrant told The Guardian.
1️⃣ The big picture: Australian Bogong moths perform an extraordinary migration twice yearly, traveling up to 1,000 kilometers between breeding grounds and mountain caves. Scientists have discovered these moths use celestial navigation, reading star patterns and the Milky Way to find their way—despite never having made the journey before. Lab experiments showed the moths could correctly orient themselves when shown natural star patterns, but became disoriented when those patterns were scrambled. Neural recordings confirmed specific brain regions activate in response to the night sky, and when stars aren’t visible, the moths rely on Earth’s magnetic field as a backup navigation system.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This discovery expands our understanding of insect intelligence and navigation capabilities, showing that even small-brained creatures can interpret complex celestial patterns. The findings demonstrate that moths, like migratory birds, can read specific star patterns to determine geographic direction, challenging assumptions about insect cognitive abilities. Such research provides crucial insights into protecting endangered species by helping us understand their unique ecological needs. For the endangered Bogong moth, understanding their navigation methods may provide critical information for conservation efforts aimed at preventing further population decline.
3️⃣ What’s next: Further research will likely explore how light pollution affects the moths’ ability to navigate using stars. Conservation efforts must consider these findings to protect the endangered Bogong moth populations. Scientists may investigate whether similar navigation abilities exist in other nocturnal insect species.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Bogong moths use stars and the Milky Way to make epic migration
