Large numbers of bogong moths undertaking their annual migration to the Australian Alps are triggering weather radar systems across eastern New South Wales, producing rainfall echoes where no precipitation is occurring. Weather radars operate by sending radio pulses designed to reflect off water particles and return as echo signals on rain radar displays. Scientists now believe these same systems are detecting the bodies and wings of migrating insects, which can produce radar signatures resembling light, widespread rain, particularly near sunrise and sunset.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson confirmed that radars across eastern NSW may be detecting bogong moth swarms, as large concentrations of insects can generate radar patterns similar to very light rain. However, the spokesperson noted that definitively attributing all such effects to moths remains challenging due to other atmospheric phenomena, including temperature inversions, which can produce comparable radar signals.
Researchers view the radar data as potentially valuable for scientific study. Dr. Kate Umbers, an associate professor in zoology at Western Sydney University, has been tracking bogong moth breeding locations and migration routes using traditional methods such as moth tagging and historical records. The radar detections could provide new insights into moth movement patterns and population numbers across hundreds of kilometres of territory.
The discovery builds on existing applications of weather radar for tracking aerial animals. Prof. Justin Welbergen at Western Sydney University has been using radar data to monitor flying fox movements in real time and retrospectively over several decades. Researchers developed a prototype system called “Aerocast” that uses computer algorithms to track and count flying foxes, with plans to expand the technology to monitor other species including birds and bogong moths. Similar initiatives internationally, such as BirdCast in the United States, employ weather radar for tracking bird migrations, demonstrating the broader potential of this approach for conservation efforts and ecological monitoring.
Bogong moth populations had experienced significant declines in recent years, though current sightings suggest possible recovery. Scientists caution, however, that increased urban sightings do not necessarily indicate overall population growth, as the moths’ alpine habitat remains threatened by climate change and other environmental pressures affecting their survival prospects.
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