Each spring, billions of bogong moths fill southeast Australia’s skies. These moths have been found to navigate using the stars, making them the first insects known to do so. Andrea Adden, a postdoctoral researcher at The Francis Crick Institute in London, and other researchers discovered this unique navigation ability by capturing wild bogong moths and studying them in a flight simulator.

The researchers disabled the moths' internal magnetic compass and projected an image of the night sky inside the simulator. They found that the moths adjusted their flying patterns based on the rotation of the sky, proving that they use stars for navigation. When a randomized sky pattern was projected, the moths became disoriented, further confirming their reliance on the stars.

Experiments involving the moths' brains showed that electrical impulses spiked when specific angles of the sky were displayed, indicating a strong reaction to star patterns. The researchers believe that bogong moths likely use the Milky Way for navigation, as their eyes are capable of seeing only the brightest stars in the sky.

During their journey, the moths likely use their sense of smell to locate alpine caves. They detect a specific odor compound near the caves, guiding them to their summer dormancy location. After spending the summer in the caves, the moths return home using their navigation skills.

Ken Lohmann, a professor at the University of North Carolina, praised the research for its thoroughness and highlighted the moths' ability to maintain a heading over long distances with a small brain. This study sheds light on the remarkable navigation abilities of these insects and the importance of protecting their population.

Bogong moths are currently endangered, and the new findings could aid in their conservation efforts. Understanding how these moths navigate using vision may help in developing strategies to protect them from threats like light pollution in urban areas.