Tuesday’s first sitting of the new Parliament could be overshadowed by the presence of some persistent and unwelcome pests as Canberra’s annual bogong moth invasion reaches record levels.
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Arriving by the thousand at sites around the national capital, the notorious brown furry insects are driving staffers and press gallery journalists to the brink.
Clinging to windows, light fittings and surfaces throughout Canberra’s largest building, the flight of the bogong comes as they flee rising temperatures in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to spend summer in the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps.
Outdoor sporting events and even suburban barbeques also attract the flying gatecrashers.
The Department of Parliamentary Services has moved to dim outside lights, including on the 81m illuminated flagpole, and implemented extra cleaning services in the worst affected areas of the building.
Department Secretary Carol Mills said the well organised counter attack was focused on upper floors, as well as the House of Representatives and Senate chambers.
‘‘Ironically the press gallery is probably the area with the greatest number of moths but I have absolutely no idea why that might be the case,’’ she said.
The moths have repeatedly set off fire alarms since first arriving on September 7 and are causing hygiene concerns in some kitchen areas.
Two thirds of outside lights have been turned off at night, and exhaust and airconditioning vents have been secured to thwart the 5cm wingspan moths.
‘‘They’ve been travelling this route a lot longer than we have been here and but some years are worse than others,’’ Ms Mills said.
One press gallery journalist observed that the bogong’s heightened media profile could be the result of the Abbott government’s reduced number of press conferences.
Previous seasons have seen at least one Canberra restaurant use the protein rich insects in meals, echoing long held Aboriginal traditions.
Unsuspecting staff at Parliament House have found bogongs in coffee mugs, desk drawers and even in hair and clothing.
The building’s architect Romaldo Giurgola said its size and prime position made the bogong invasion inevitable.
‘‘It is a seasonal thing for two or three months and then they go away,’’ he said.
‘‘I didn’t notice them [during the construction] but it is something that happens despite the air conditioning, especially when you have a big space. It is very easy for them to come in.’’
A 2005 report by the Parliamentary Library confirmed Capital Hill formed a “giant light trap” for the moths - also known as Agrotis infusa.
Bogong expert Linda Broome of the NSW Environment Department said the moth madness was a positive sign for the environment.
“I have never seen so many moths,” she said.
‘‘I suspect it has something to do with the last two or three wet years we’ve had in northern New South Wales. Because we have had all these strong northerly winds, it is probably blowing them down to Canberra more than usual.’’
She said the large numbers could be a return to normal.
“It is an indication of an eco-system that is healthy and having this many moths around should be something to celebrate.’’
She offered a note of optimism suffering the attack.
‘‘Once the weather heats up they should pass through and go back to the mountains around Canberra. Hopefully they will start moving on in a few weeks.’’