The Little Moth with a Big Journey

Each spring, millions of Bogong moths make an incredible journey across eastern Australia, travelling hundreds of kilometres to the cool mountains of the Australian Alps.

For North East Victoria, these small brown moths are an important part of both the natural and cultural landscape. After arriving in the High Country, Bogong moths shelter in caves, rock crevices and beneath boulders, spending the warmer months in the cool alpine environment.

The moths are an important food source for many alpine animals, including the critically endangered mountain pygmy-possum. Their seasonal arrival brings a significant pulse of food into the alpine ecosystem.

Bogong moths also have a deep cultural significance for First Nations peoples of the Australian Alps. For thousands of years, Aboriginal groups travelled into the mountains during the moth season, gathering to harvest the moths as an important food source and to maintain cultural connections, trade and ceremony.

In recent years, Bogong moth numbers have declined dramatically, making their migration an important reminder of the health and interconnectedness of our alpine ecosystems.

For those of us living in North East Victoria, the Bogong moth is a small but remarkable part of the story of our High Country — connecting the mountains, wildlife and people across generations.