A big moth, or something from Day of the Dead? One man’s search for an otherworldly Australian insect

<p>For seven years Ian McMaster has been mothing on his painstakingly rehabilitated Queensland property. But only once has he encountered the elusive southern pink underwing</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Dark descends upon a dead-end property atop a winding mountain road and Ian McMaster steps out into the forest.</p><p>Protective goggles perched atop his grey hair, torch in hand, McMaster is drawn into the gums that surround his rammed-earth home toward a white sheet shining in UV light like a stage prop moon.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/26/southern-pink-underwing-moth-man-search-for-giant-australian-insect">Continue reading...</a>