Are moths the missing pollinators in Subantarctic New Zealand?

Moths emerge as critical pollinators in the depauperate insect fauna of Subantarctic New Zealand, where they carry pollen from four plant species despite harsh conditions and low abundance. The study, conducted across three habitat types using Heath moth traps, found that moths transported pollen most abundantly from Bulbinella rossii and Dracophyllum longifolium, with shrubland environments showing higher pollen diversity per moth. While weather influenced moth distribution, local flowering patterns—particularly the dominance of D. longifolium—better explained their pollination potential. This is the first evidence that moths play an overlooked role in Subantarctic plant reproduction, challenging assumptions about insect-mediated pollination in species-poor island ecosystems.

Buxton, M. N., Anderson, B. J., Hoare, R. J. B., & Lord, J. M. (2019). Are moths the missing pollinators in Subantarctic New Zealand? Polar Research, 38(0). https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v38.3545