They covered whole houses: endangered bogong moths are back over Australia's southeast

For years the bogong moth — a small, harmless night-flyer with a 5cm wingspan — was fading from Australia's southeast, worn down by drought, farming and lost habitat. This month it came back in clouds, covering homes across the region. The moths matter far beyond their size: they feed treasured wildlife such as the mountain pygmy-possum and pollinate eucalyptus trees, and they are protected by law. 'The bogongs are terrific for our ecosystem,' said Steve Whan, who represents the Monaro region in the New South Wales parliament. One likely reason for the rebound is rain: more of it means more food for the moths' larvae — a reminder that a species written off as disappearing can surge back when conditions give it a chance.

SDG 15 · Life on land