Aestivation dynamics of bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) in the Australian Alps and predation by wild pigs (Sus scrofa)
Peter Caley A C and Marijke Welvaert A BA Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Present Address: University of Canberra, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C Corresponding author: Email: peter.caley@csiro.au
Pacific Conservation Biology 24(2) 178-182 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC18007
Submitted: 18 January 2018 Accepted: 9 March 2018 Published: 16 April 2018
Journal compilation © CSIRO 2018 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
We document predation of aestivating bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) by wild pigs (Sus scrofa) at a location in the Australian Alps. This is the first known record of pigs preying on bogong moths. Wild pigs are recent colonisers of the region, though already the population appears seasonally habituated to foraging on aestivating moths. This is indicative of adaptation of a feral animal undertaking dietary resource switching within what is now a modified ecosystem and food web. The significance of this predation on moth abundance is unclear. Long-term monitoring to compare numbers of moths with historical surveys undertaken before the colonisation by wild pigs will require that they are excluded from aestivation sites. Our surveys in 2014–15 observed bogong moths to arrive about one month earlier compared with a similar survey in 1951–52, though to also depart earlier.
Additional keywords: climate change, migration, monitoring.
References
Broome, L. S. (2001). Density, home range, seasonal movements and habitat use of the mountain pygmy-possum Burramys parvus (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) at Mount Blue Cow, Kosciuszko National Park. Austral Ecology 26, 275–292.| Density, home range, seasonal movements and habitat use of the mountain pygmy-possum Burramys parvus (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) at Mount Blue Cow, Kosciuszko National Park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caley, P. (1997). Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical habitat. Wildlife Research 24, 77–87.
| Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Common, I. F. B. (1954). A study of the ecology of the adult bogong moth, Agrotis infusa (Boisd) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with special reference to its behaviour during migration and aestivation. Australian Journal of Zoology 2, 223–263.
| A study of the ecology of the adult bogong moth, Agrotis infusa (Boisd) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with special reference to its behaviour during migration and aestivation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flood, J. (1996). ‘Moth Hunters of the Australian Capital Territory.’ (Published privately: Canberra.)
Green, K. (2010). Alpine taxa exhibit differing responses to climate warming in the Snowy Mountains of Australia. Journal of Mountain Science 7, 167–175.
| Alpine taxa exhibit differing responses to climate warming in the Snowy Mountains of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Green, K. (2011). The transport of nutrients and energy into the Australian Snowy Mountains by migrating bogong moths Agrotis infusa. Austral Ecology 36, 25–34.
| The transport of nutrients and energy into the Australian Snowy Mountains by migrating bogong moths Agrotis infusa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Green, K., and Osborne, W. (1981). The diet of foxes, Vulpes vulpes (L.), in relation to abundance of prey above the winter snowline in New South Wales. Wildlife Research 8, 349–360.
| The diet of foxes, Vulpes vulpes (L.), in relation to abundance of prey above the winter snowline in New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hone, J. (2002). Feral pigs in Namadgi National Park, Australia: dynamics, impacts and management. Biological Conservation 105, 231–242.
| Feral pigs in Namadgi National Park, Australia: dynamics, impacts and management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saunders, G. R. (1988). The ecology and management of feral pigs in New South Wales. M.Sc. Thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney.
Saunders, G., and Kay, B. (1996). Movements and home ranges of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 23, 711–719.
| Movements and home ranges of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schley, L., and Roper, T. J. (2003). Diet of wild boar Sus scrofa in western Europe, with particular reference to consumption of agricultural crops. Mammal Review 33, 43–56.
| Diet of wild boar Sus scrofa in western Europe, with particular reference to consumption of agricultural crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Short, J. (1998). The extinction of rat-kangaroos (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) in New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 86, 365–377.
| The extinction of rat-kangaroos (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) in New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warrant, E., Frost, B., Green, K., Mouritsen, H., Dreyer, D., Adden, A., Brauburger, K., and Heinze, S. (2016). The Australian Bogong moth Agrotis infusa: a long-distance nocturnal navigator. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 10, .
| The Australian Bogong moth Agrotis infusa: a long-distance nocturnal navigator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Welvaert, M., Al-Ghattas, O., Cameron, M., and Caley, P. (2017). Limits of use of social media for monitoring biosecurity events. PLoS One 12, e0172457.
| Limits of use of social media for monitoring biosecurity events.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
