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==Cultural uses==
==Cultural uses==
Indigenous Australians living in south eastern Australia were known to have feasted on the moths, benefiting from their rich fat reserves, particularly during the summer when the moths were plentiful. The moths were either killed or stupefied by the heat and smoke of torches, and then their bodies collected. Many aboriginal band groups from the lowlands traveled to exploit this tasty, high protein and high fat resource, and so at any time during the summer, the population of human foragers could be upwards of 400 individuals. Moth collection activities were accompanied by appropriate ceremonies and rites of intensification, and most nearby groups held title to their own pitch for harvesting.<ref> Oliver, Douglas L. 1989. Oceania: The Native Cultures of Australia and the Pacific Islands. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. </ref> Once collected, the moths were generally roasted and eaten whole.<ref name="KIANDRA">{{cite book|title=Historic KIANDRA |author = Moye D.G. (ed) |publisher=The Cooma-Monaro historical society | year=1959 |page=1}}</ref> This cultural use is no longer practised. The term "Urri Arra" refers to the Bogong moth feasts that these Aboriginal people held.
Indigenous Australians living in south eastern Australia were known to have feasted on the moths, benefiting from their rich fat reserves, particularly during the summer when the moths were plentiful. The moths were either killed or stupefied by the heat and smoke of torches, and then their bodies collected. Many aboriginal band groups from the lowlands traveled to exploit this tasty, high protein and high fat resource, and so at any time during the summer, the population of human foragers could be upwards of 400 individuals. Moth collection activities were accompanied by appropriate ceremonies and rites of intensification, and most nearby groups held title to their own pitch for harvesting.<ref> Oliver, Douglas L. 1989. Oceania: The Native Cultures of Australia and the Pacific Islands. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. pp 174-175. </ref> Once collected, the moths were generally roasted and eaten whole.<ref name="KIANDRA">{{cite book|title=Historic KIANDRA |author = Moye D.G. (ed) |publisher=The Cooma-Monaro historical society | year=1959 |page=1}}</ref> This cultural use is no longer practised. The term "Urri Arra" refers to the Bogong moth feasts that these Aboriginal people held.


A town, [[Bogong, Victoria|Bogong]], in the [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] state of [[Australia]] has been named after the [[moth]].<ref name="boogong_moth"> Physical Map of Australia, special advertising feature of Australia.com on pg 16, National Geographic magazine, May 2006, Washington DC</ref>
A town, [[Bogong, Victoria|Bogong]], in the [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] state of [[Australia]] has been named after the [[moth]].<ref name="boogong_moth"> Physical Map of Australia, special advertising feature of Australia.com on pg 16, National Geographic magazine, May 2006, Washington DC</ref>

Revision as of 18:31, 25 September 2009

Bogong Moth
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Agrotis
Species:
A. infusa
Binomial name
Agrotis infusa
Boisduval, 1832

The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is a temperate species of night-flying moth notable for appearing in large numbers around major public buildings in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, during spring (late September to November). The moth's name is reported as having come from their occurrence on granite mountains - known as "Bogongs" by local Indigenous Australians[1], and said to be the translation of the word "Canberra" in the Ngunnawal language of those locals[2].

Ecology and life cycle

The Bogong moth Agrotis infusa is common throughout southern Australia. These brown to blackish moths have a wingspan of approximately 45 millimetres. Adults make lengthy migrations to spend summer months in large congregations in caves and crevices of rocks in the Australian Alps, notably in the region of the Bogong High Plains in Victoria. They are attracted to lights, like those seen at night in the Sydney and Canberra areas. They were notable in broadcasts of the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony on 15 September. Large numbers may enter houses or other buildings to rest during the day. In winter, adults disperse to pastures across inland New South Wales and Queensland to lay their eggs.

This subfamily are characterised by their stoutly built bodies covered with long dense scales.

The larvae, collectively known as cutworms, are also stoutly built. They feed on a wide variety of plants (see list below). The name cutworm comes from the larvae's habit of cutting off plant parts during the night which they drag back to their burrows in the soil as food.

The Bogong moth is univoltine (i.e. it has one generation per year). The Lepidopteran life cycle consists of four stages; ova (eggs), several larval instars (caterpillars), pupa (cocoon), and imagines (adults).

Cultural uses

Indigenous Australians living in south eastern Australia were known to have feasted on the moths, benefiting from their rich fat reserves, particularly during the summer when the moths were plentiful. The moths were either killed or stupefied by the heat and smoke of torches, and then their bodies collected. Many aboriginal band groups from the lowlands traveled to exploit this tasty, high protein and high fat resource, and so at any time during the summer, the population of human foragers could be upwards of 400 individuals. Moth collection activities were accompanied by appropriate ceremonies and rites of intensification, and most nearby groups held title to their own pitch for harvesting.[3] Once collected, the moths were generally roasted and eaten whole.[1] This cultural use is no longer practised. The term "Urri Arra" refers to the Bogong moth feasts that these Aboriginal people held.

A town, Bogong, in the Victoria state of Australia has been named after the moth.[4]

Infestations

Bogong Moths on 56-70 Phillip Street, Sydney, October 2007
Close up of Bogong Moths, Sydney, October 2007

At the start of October 2007 Bogong moths again invaded Sydney city. They mainly gathered in the block around around the Governor Phillip Tower, especially on the building on Phillip St housing the Prime Minister's Sydney office. They tend to gather in corners and crevices in nearby sandstone buildings.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Moye D.G. (ed) (1959). Historic KIANDRA. The Cooma-Monaro historical society. p. 1. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Ngunawal
  3. ^ Oliver, Douglas L. 1989. Oceania: The Native Cultures of Australia and the Pacific Islands. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. pp 174-175.
  4. ^ Physical Map of Australia, special advertising feature of Australia.com on pg 16, National Geographic magazine, May 2006, Washington DC

Recorded host plants

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