We’ve long recognized that certain animals rely on the Sun for navigation across the globe. Nevertheless, recent studies might have revealed the first insect identified to use the stars and night sky for navigation. The stars have served as a navigational aid for humans for ages. Consider, for example, the North Star. Yet, prior to the discovery of the bogong moth, we had not found insects using the stars in the same manner.
Research published this year indicates that these moths indeed depend on the stars in the same way humans do. Annually, these moths make a journey exceeding 600 miles, guided by the stars. This trek is crucial for the moths as they depend on the cool climate of the Australian Alps to shield them from the oppressive summer heat.
A notable aspect of bogong moths is that they have never previously traveled to the mountains before embarking on their annual migration. This is not a route they follow each year throughout their lives, as many of these insects only survive for a few days or weeks. Therefore, there must be an innate way for them to reach their destination. The only conclusion researchers arrived at was stellar navigation.
As I mentioned earlier, this method of navigation has been a staple in human exploration for centuries. It has been one of the main techniques used by sailors to find their way on the open seas, where the absence of land to reference the horizon made it critical to ascertain direction by looking upwards.
In the Australian outback, where bogong moths are found, the Milky Way serves as a significant landmark. Thus, it stands to reason that these insects might depend on such a prominent feature in the heavens for navigation. However, a hypothesis can only extend so far. To validate it, researchers needed to capture some of these insects and conduct experiments.
To determine if they genuinely depend on the stars rather than the Earth’s magnetic field, the researchers took every measure to eliminate the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field. This allowed them to confirm that bogong moths indeed utilize the stars in the night sky to navigate. The researchers are optimistic that gaining insights into how these insects find their way could contribute to future conservation efforts.
Currently, understanding that certain animals and insects depend on the stars can encourage us to explore the animal kingdom for others that might do the same. It can also enhance our comprehension of how worsening light pollution may impact these species.
