Agrotis infusa
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a temperate species of night-flying moth, notable for its biannual long-distance seasonal migrations towards and from the Australian Alps, similar to the diurnal monarch butterfly. During the autumn and winter it is found in southern Queensland, western New South Wales, western Victoria, Tasmania and also in South and Western Australia. Adult bogong moths breed and larvae hatch during this period, consuming winter pasture plants during their growth. During the spring, the moths migrate south or east and reside in mountains such as Mount Bogong, where they gregariously aestivate over the summer until their return towards breeding grounds again in the autumn.
The moth's name, bogong, is derived from an Australian Aboriginal language; the Dhudhuroa word bugung describes the brown colouration of the moth. It is an icon of Australian wildlife due to its historical role as an important food source and because Aboriginal peoples would come to where the moths spend the summer to feast on them and hold intertribal gatherings. In recent years, it has been seen in major cities like Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney due to strong winds during its spring migration.
Starting around 1980 and accelerating rapidly after 2016, the bogong moth population has sharply declined as a result of increasingly severe droughts, along with increased temperatures in caves used by the moths for aestivation, both primarily resulting from anthropogenic climate change. In December 2021 the bogong moth was added to the IUCN Red List as an endangered species. In 2026, observations on Zoos Victoria's Moth Tracker indicated a steep rebound. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Bogong Moth sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 732 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 18th most-seen of the 875 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Bogong Moth in Melbourne on a given day, against under 5% in July and August, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Bogong Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Bogong Moth sightings, Melbourne ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Sydney (Australia, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Bogong Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Melbourne (732 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
