新南威尔士州及周边地区近期出现了数量惊人的博岗蛾群体，引发当地居民和生态研究人员的广泛关注。根据公民科学项目Bogong Watch和Moth Tracker的数据，9月份的博岗蛾目击数量已超过去年全年，创造了历史新高 12。新州多个家庭各自报告了数十只蛾类的目击事件，其中一名观察者在周日晚间发现了超过200只博岗蛾 1。专家表示，这一现象可能预示着这一濒危物种正在走向恢复。
博岗蛾在过去数年经历了灾难性的种群衰退。该物种在2017年至2019年间的种群崩溃幅度达99.5% 12。根据估计，2016年博岗蛾数量约为40亿只，随后因干旱数量急剧下降，几乎无法检测 2。这种数量的急剧减少对依赖蛾类食物的其他物种造成了严重影响，例如山地小袋鼠在监测的维州种群中有一半的雌性失去全部幼崽 2。博岗蛾于2021年被国际自然保护联盟列为濒危物种 12。
这种迁徙蛾类具有独特的生物学特征和生态价值。博岗蛾是除人类和某些鸟类外唯一利用星星导航的生物，其年度迁徙距离可达1000公里，体重不足2.5克，翼展约5厘米 2。每只雌蛾可产下2000个卵 1。除了对澳大利亚生态系统的重要性外，博岗蛾对原住民文化也具有深远意义 2。研究人员对近期的发现表示乐观，Marissa Parrott博士表示："我们对所看到的一切感到绝对欣喜" 1。
Residents across New South Wales have reported extraordinary sightings of bogong moths in recent weeks, with swarming numbers suggesting a remarkable turnaround for a species that faced near-total collapse just years ago.12 September alone saw sighting records surpass the entirety of 2024, marking a historic peak according to citizen science projects Bogong Watch and Moth Tracker.1 In one instance, a sentinel documented over 200 bogong moths on a single evening, while three separate households reported dozens of the insects.1 Dr. Marissa Parrott expressed optimism about the trend, stating: "We are absolutely thrilled with everything we are seeing."1
The recovery carries profound significance given the species' recent devastation. Bogong moth populations experienced a catastrophic 99.5 percent decline between 2017 and 2019, driven by drought conditions that preceded the Black Summer bushfires.12 Historical records suggest approximately four billion moths once migrated annually to the Australian Alps.1 By 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the species as endangered.12 The current resurgence provides hope that the ecosystem may be self-healing after years of crisis that had cascading impacts on dependent wildlife—mountain pygmy possums in monitored Victorian populations saw up to 95 percent of breeding females lose their joeys due to lack of moth food sources.2
Beyond ecological importance, bogong moths hold cultural significance and possess remarkable biological traits.2 Each female can produce up to 2,000 eggs,1 and the species undertakes annual migrations spanning up to 1,000 kilometers on bodies weighing less than 2.5 grams with wingspans reaching five centimeters.2 Bogong moths are among the few creatures—alongside certain bird species and humans—known to navigate by stars.2 Researchers at Western Sydney University's Bogong Watch project use specialized lanterns and isotope analysis to track the moths' migratory routes.2
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