Bogong Moths Use Stars to Navigate a 600-Mile Journey
- Feb 14
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Student summary by Jayden Ahn
Original Source: Evan Bush, NBC News, June 18, 2025.
Image created by Jayden Ahn
Abstract
Background:
Recently, Bogong moths have been found to use the stars to navigate their journey. Researchers have said this was a first for insects and one of the few known cases of animals using stars to navigate to a destination.
Objective:
The scientists’ goal was to determine how Bogong moths use stellar navigation.
Method:
The scientists captured several Bogong moths, then suspended them on a rod and placed them in a barrel for a “flight simulation.” The moths were attached to the back of the rod so they could turn and flap their wings freely. At the top of the simulator, there was an adjustable display of a night sky so that scientists could observe how the moths responded to different star patterns.
Results:
While the scientists were testing, they adjusted the night sky display and discovered that the moths shifted their flight direction to set a new heading. When the scientists showed a disrupted or scrambled star pattern on the screen, the moths became disoriented. This suggests that Bogong moths use the night sky to navigate during migration.
Conclusion:
Bogong moths are unique creatures and one of the few animals known to use the night sky for navigation. However, this species has faced population declines in recent years, partly due to the 2020 Australian wildfires and environmental changes. Bogong moths are the first known insect species shown to use stellar navigation in this way.
