New Delhi, June 23 -- A small insect, the Bogong moth, travels 1,000 kilometres every year at night across Australia. These moths leave the heat of southeastern Australia in spring to rest in cool caves in the Australian Alps. They return in autumn to mate and die.

A new study shows that these moths use the stars to guide them, just like birds and humans. This is the first time such a skill has been found in insects.

The Bogong moth, now endangered, has a wingspan of about 5 cm. They sense Earth's magnetic field, which gives them a backup if the sky is cloudy.

Scientists studied around 400 Bogong moths to understand how they travel 1,000 km at night. Now, they are amazed at how these small-brained creatures manage such complex navigati...