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Moths in My Undies: Why Sydney is Covered in Moths and What to do About it

By Florence Goodman

Woman at window with curtains and window open
Let the moths be free!
Something is tickling my toes. I’ve had these shoes for years, perfectly broken in, and I certainly don’t remember them coming with a built-in massage function.
 
I slide my foot out, peering into the dark leather cave, and out flutters a frantic moth. A few minutes later, my husband brings the washing in from the line, wearing a look of pure bewilderment. “Ten moths,” he announces, holding up a pair of briefs. “Ten moths were in my undies.”
 

If your home suddenly feels like a bustling insect hotel, you aren’t going crazy. Sydney is currently being plagued by a massive influx of moths. They are in our shoes, our shirts, our pantries, and our stairwells.

Here’s why our city has become a moth magnet

 
These aren’t your everyday pantry pests looking to feast on your favourite wool sweater. What you’re seeing are Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa)—medium-sized, dull-brown native explorers on an epic, cross-country road trip.
 
Every spring, millions of these moths hatch in the inland plains of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. They begin a massive migration toward the cool caves of the Australian Alps to escape the summer heat, a journey they have made for thousands of years.
 
So, how did they end up in your husband’s underwear?

You can thank the weather. Strong spring westerly and north-westerly winds often blow these little navigators wildly off course, pushing them straight into the Sydney basin. Once they arrive, our bright urban lights completely scramble their internal GPS, drawing them away from the mountains and toward our homes. Confused, exhausted, and desperately seeking a dark, cosy crevice to rest during the day, a freshly washed pair of briefs or a dark shoe looks remarkably like a welcoming alpine cave.

But put down the bug spray—we can’t kill the moths

When an insect invades our personal space, our first instinct is usually to reach for the nearest can of bug spray or a rolled-up magazine. Resist that urge.
 
As of 2021, the Bogong moth was officially added to the IUCN Red List as an Endangered Species. Their numbers have plummeted drastically in recent years due to severe droughts, climate change, and habitat loss.
 

More importantly, these moths are the cornerstone of a delicate alpine ecosystem. They are a crucial, fat-rich food source for the critically endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum. When Bogong moths don’t arrive in the mountains, the possums face starvation. Spraying these moths not only dwindles a globally endangered species but also actively harms the food chain they support. They aren’t trying to infest your home; they are just lost commuters desperate to get back on the highway.

So, here is what you need to do

Since assassination is off the table, the best approach is a gentle eviction and a few smart preventative measures. The swarm typically only lasts one to three weeks, so prevention is key.
  • Dim the welcome sign. Moths are irresistibly drawn to artificial light. Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights, especially porch and balcony fixtures. If you need a light on, make sure your indoor blinds and curtains are tightly drawn from dusk until midnight, which is their peak flying time.
  • Secure the perimeter. Ensure your fly screens don’t have tears and keep your doors shut during the evening. If you live in an older Sydney terrace, check for gaps under your doors and windows—Bogongs are experts at flattening themselves to squeeze through tight spaces.
  • The shake-down. Before bringing the washing in off the line, give every single item a vigorous shake. Moths love the damp, shaded folds of hanging laundry.
  • Catch and release. For the inevitable few that make it inside, use the classic glass-and-paper method. Trap the moth gently against the wall with a cup, slide a piece of paper underneath, and release it outside into the dark.
This swarm isn’t a permanent invasion—it’s just a temporary spring layover. Until the winds shift, check your shoes, shake out your laundry, and send our lost, endangered little tourists safely on their way to the mountains.
 

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