Humor - John Layton's 10 THINGS to know about bogong moths

Ten things to know about bogong moths

During mid to late spring Canberra is visited by hordes of little brown moths called bogongs.
Bogongs hatch on the western plains of New South Wales during autumn. The larvae, called cutworms, feed on grasses before entering the soil to pupate in late winter.
They emerge as moths in spring and, as the weather warms, set forth on one of the world's most remarkable insect migrations. They fly to the alpine country of the south-east where millions crowd into caves and aestivate — the summer equivalent of hibernation.
Bogongs travel at night, feeding on nectar as they go. During daylight, they rest in foliage and crevices. Attracted by the bright lights of Canberra, they become a property manager's nightmare as they enter buildings and clog air-conditioning ducts.
Some years ago, pest controllers advised customers to moth-proof carpets before the bogongs arrived. Bogongs, being nectar eaters, would no sooner eat carpet than an enterprising pest controller would.
Strong westerlies blow migrating bogongs to the coast. During the Sydney 2000 Olympics, one bogong achieved international TV exposure when the ticklish critter alighted on the bosom of opera singer Yvonne Kenny as she sang the national anthem.
During aestivation, bogongs are preyed upon by lizards, birds and possums.
Aborigines trekked to the mountains to feast on the protein-rich bogongs, said to taste like walnuts.
Elizabeth McKeahnie told of seeing 500 Aboriginal bogong hunters camped on Gudgenby Station circa 1860 (Queanbeyan Observer, March 28, 1913).
Come autumn, bogongs leave the mountains and fly back to the western plains where they mate, lay their eggs and die.

October 20, 2006
©John K. Layton. Canberra, All Rights Reserved

WANT TO READ MORE '10 THINGS'? CHECK OUT THE ARCHIVE BY CLICKING HERE

NB: I called this site Dunno because I kept drawing a blank when I had to put a name to it

During mid to late spring Canberra is visited by hordes of little brown moths called bogongs.

Bogongs hatch on the western plains of New South Wales during autumn. The larvae, called cutworms, feed on grasses before entering the soil to pupate in late winter.

They emerge as moths in spring and, as the weather warms, set forth on one of the world's most remarkable insect migrations. They fly to the alpine country of the south-east where millions crowd into caves and aestivate — the summer equivalent of hibernation.

Bogongs travel at night, feeding on nectar as they go. During daylight, they rest in foliage and crevices. Attracted by the bright lights of Canberra, they become a property manager's nightmare as they enter buildings and clog air-conditioning ducts.

Some years ago, pest controllers advised customers to moth-proof carpets before the bogongs arrived. Bogongs, being nectar eaters, would no sooner eat carpet than an enterprising pest controller would.

Strong westerlies blow migrating bogongs to the coast. During the Sydney 2000 Olympics, one bogong achieved international TV exposure when the ticklish critter alighted on the bosom of opera singer Yvonne Kenny as she sang the national anthem.

During aestivation, bogongs are preyed upon by lizards, birds and possums.

Aborigines trekked to the mountains to feast on the protein-rich bogongs, said to taste like walnuts.

Elizabeth McKeahnie told of seeing 500 Aboriginal bogong hunters camped on Gudgenby Station circa 1860 (Queanbeyan Observer, March 28, 1913).

Come autumn, bogongs leave the mountains and fly back to the western plains where they mate, lay their eggs and die.

WANT TO READ MORE '10 THINGS'? CHECK OUT THE ARCHIVE BY CLICKING HERE