The ABC is set to name its third Australian Insect of the Year in 2026, and audiences can take part in choosing the winner. A quiz created with the CSIRO invites readers to test what they know about native bugs, beetles, bees and butterflies. Six finalists have been shortlisted for the title, and voting remains open until the end of October. Readers are encouraged to explore the candidates before casting their preferred vote.
Weather radars across south-eastern Australia have shown rain-like signals most nights for a month, though skies are mostly clear. The Bureau of Meteorology says millions of bogong moths migrating to the Australian Alps for summer are the likely cause. The insects take flight after sunset and appear on radar as widespread light rain. Radar echoes have spread from New South Wales into northern and eastern Victoria. Standard forecasts are not affected, as they rely on modelling, ground observations and satellites. Some weather apps relying on raw radar data could send false alerts.
Insect enthusiasts say a surge of native caper white butterflies has arrived in Adelaide after wet weather in Central Australia. Kris Messenger, of the invertebrate education service Bugs and Slugs, says heavy rain further north created ideal conditions for the insects. The butterflies move south each summer to escape heat and limited food, resting on caper plants along the way. Kate Grigg, a gardener, says her large caper bush was visited about two weeks earlier than elsewhere in the city. Messenger says other insects, including dragonflies and grasshoppers, are also thriving this year.
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Thousands of spotted ladybirds have appeared across Newcastle in recent weeks, drawing attention from residents on washing lines, picnic tables and beaches. Australian Museum entomologist Chris Reid identifies them as transverse ladybirds, a native species found across Australia. He suspects warm, wet winter conditions inland pushed them east, carrying bogong moths with them. Reid says the ladybirds eat crop pests such as aphids, so they are good for gardens. He adds that they are unlikely to stay long.
A columnist says a South Coast holiday has been overrun by bogong moths, which are settling in homes and clothing. Zoos Victoria senior conservation biologist Marissa Parrott says this is the best year for the species in nearly a decade, after its numbers collapsed around 2017 to 2019. The columnist says the moths are only passing through on their way to the Australian Alps, and calls for them to move on quickly.
Readers across NSW report finding dozens of bogong moths indoors each day, even after sealing windows and doors. Many point to drain holes in sliding door and window tracks as a likely entry point, while others mention skylights and clothing brought in from outside. Experts advise gently moving moths outside under a container and card rather than killing them, as bogongs are protected. Readers also say the moths have disrupted gas hot water pilot lights. Numbers are expected to decline in the coming weeks as the moths return to the Snowy Mountains.
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.
Millions of bogong moths are currently migrating across New South Wales, with many appearing in urban areas. Experts attribute this influx to factors like light pollution and weather patterns, which can disrupt their navigation. While the moths' numbers are higher than in recent years, their populations had significantly declined around 2017 and 2019. Researchers are tracking the moths' movements to better understand their migration routes and support conservation efforts. Residents are encouraged to report sightings and reduce light pollution to aid the moths' journey.
