I forget roughly which year, but there was a critical drop in the number of bogong moths, a large migratory moth endemic to Australia, following concurrent bush fires across most states.
The people studying it hypothesised that, in addition to destruction of habitat causing the population to dive, the moth whose patterning resembles the bark of different species of gum tree, was no longer able to camouflage effectively against the uniformly black burnt trees and stumps.
This made them easier prey. It was a double whammy and they’re probably on the way out.
Depressing but related, about species extinction
I forget roughly which year, but there was a critical drop in the number of bogong moths, a large migratory moth endemic to Australia, following concurrent bush fires across most states.
The people studying it hypothesised that, in addition to destruction of habitat causing the population to dive, the moth whose patterning resembles the bark of different species of gum tree, was no longer able to camouflage effectively against the uniformly black burnt trees and stumps.
This made them easier prey. It was a double whammy and they’re probably on the way out.