The moths are back over Sydney's rooftops

Sydney woke up this week to bogong moths blanketing backyards and homes across Australia's southeast — the biggest return in years for an insect that had been vanishing. The thumb-sized moths fly up to 3,000 km to the Australian Alps each spring, feeding pygmy-possums and pollinating eucalyptus along the way. Drought and habitat loss had driven years of steep decline; authorities say this year's swarms signal the endangered species is recovering. 'It's really exciting to see this recovering population coming our way,' said Steve Whan, who represents the alpine region of Monaro. 'The Bogongs are terrific for our ecosystem.'