Insect Celestial Navigation by Design
The other day, I went to visit Hammond Suisse at his spread and helped with some odds and ends. Day became night. We were taking a break, looking up at the stars. That always stirs me on the inside. Canada geese were honking and flying in formation, darker areas against the night. "Do they use the stars to know where they're going?" he asked. I replied, "Sure do. The Creator gave us the sun, moon, and stars for lots of things including navigation," I replied. "We're not the only ones to take advantage of them." Male bogong moth ( Agrotis infusa ), Wikimedia Commons / Birgit E. Rhode ( CC BY 4.0 ) Down 'Straya way, researchers performed some interesting science on bogong moths. Some of these critters migrate 1,000 km (621 miles) at night. Testing revealed that they navigate by the stars. Since the world turns, so they had to adjust for that as well. It is not a learned or taught behavior, as they do not live long enough to pass along the inform...