Moths That Find Their Way by the Stars

The bogong moth is a fascinating creature. It can travel up to 600 miles. It does this journey using the stars as a guide. This is a big deal. It is the first insect known to navigate using stars. Scientists found this out by doing some clever experiments. First, they caught some wild bogong moths and put them in a special device. This device was like a small barrel. Inside, the moths could flap their wings and turn as if they were flying. The scientists wanted to see how the moths reacted to different night skies. They created a magnetic vacuum to stop the moths from using their internal compass. This way, they could focus on the moths' other senses. The scientists projected different images of the night sky onto the top of the device. When they changed the rotation of the sky, the moths adjusted their flying patterns. They set a new heading to match the sky. But when the scientists showed a random, broken-up sky pattern, the moths got lost. This showed that the moths use the stars to navigate. In another experiment, the scientists looked at the moths' brains. They found that certain neurons reacted to specific angles of the sky. This means the moths can see and react to the stars. The scientists think the moths might use the Milky Way to guide them. The moths' eyes can see the brightest stars. The Milky Way would look very bright to them. The bogong moths spend their summers in alpine caves. They use their sense of smell to find these caves. They detect a special odor coming from the caves. This smell guides them in. It is like an olfactory beacon. The moths live for about a year. They return home after their summer in the caves. The bogong moths are in trouble. Their numbers have been dropping. This is due to droughts and bushfires. The new findings about their navigation could help protect them. Knowing how they navigate can inform protection approaches. For example, reducing light pollution in cities could help. This way, the moths won't get trapped. The bogong moths have a small brain. Yet, they can maintain their heading over long distances. This shows the power of natural selection. It highlights the ingenuity of these small creatures. They use their senses and the stars to navigate. This is a remarkable ability.