From bogong moths to Christmas beetles – how to slow down and spot more insects

Key points

• Bogong moth numbers have surged along Australia's east coast this year, with people finding the insects in homes across the region. Researchers say the resurgence offers useful information about the health of the population, which fell by 99 per cent between 2017 and 2019.
• Two years of high rainfall may have helped the moths breed and feed, while strong winds may have pushed them into Sydney. Christmas beetles have also become rarer, and citizen scientists are helping track surviving populations.
• Experts encourage people to slow down, photograph insects and upload sightings to online platforms that help scientists track them.