Bogong Moths Exhibit Stellar Navigation Skills Over Long Distances

In a groundbreaking study published on June 19, 2025, in the journal Nature, researchers revealed that the Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), an iconic species in Australia, utilizes star constellations and the Milky Way for navigation across hundreds of kilometers during its annual migration. This remarkable discovery marks the first known instance of an invertebrate using a stellar compass for long-distance travel, shedding light on the complexities of animal navigation.

The study was spearheaded by an international collaboration involving experts from Lund University, the Australian National University (ANU), the University of South Australia (UniSA), and several other institutions across Europe, Asia, and Australia. According to Professor Eric Warrant, a zoologist at Lund University, "Bogong moths are incredibly precise in their navigation, adjusting their bearing based on the season and time of night."

Each spring, billions of Bogong moths emerge from various breeding grounds in southeast Australia, embarking on a journey that can span up to 1,000 kilometers to specific caves in the Australian Alps, where they aestivate during the summer months. The moths rely on a dual navigation system, employing both celestial cues and the Earth’s magnetic field to reach their destinations, even in adverse weather conditions.

Utilizing advanced flight simulators and brain recordings in magnetically neutral environments, researchers tested the moths under different sky conditions. The findings demonstrated that when presented with a natural starry sky, the moths consistently oriented themselves in the correct migratory direction. If the stars were obscured, they were still able to maintain direction using only the Earth’s magnetic field. This dual compass system is crucial for ensuring accurate navigation despite changing environmental conditions.

The research also identified specialized neurons in the moth's brain that respond to the orientation of the starry sky. These neurons, located in regions responsible for navigation, showed heightened activity when the moths faced south. Professor Javaan Chahl, a remote sensing engineer at UniSA and co-author of the study, noted that this discovery could have broader implications for robotic navigation technologies and conservation strategies for vulnerable species.

The implications of this research extend beyond understanding the navigation abilities of the Bogong moth. As populations of these moths have sharply declined in recent years, leading to their listing as vulnerable, the study emphasizes the necessity of protecting migratory pathways and the dark environments these creatures depend on.

In conclusion, the exploration of how the Bogong moth navigates using the stars not only enhances our understanding of animal behavior but also underscores the interconnectedness of ecological systems and the impact of environmental changes on species survival. This research paves the way for future inquiries into the navigational capabilities of other species and raises awareness about the importance of conserving their habitats. As Professor Warrant aptly stated, "The night sky has guided human explorers for millennia. Now we know that it guides moths, too."