Data and code from: The neglected pollinators: Settling moths are keystone floral visitors essential to network connectivity and tropical forest recovery

The underrepresentation of nocturnal taxa in ecological research
constitutes the “nocturnal problem”. A significant example is settling
(i.e., non-sphingid) moths, coined as "needles in a haystack,"
given the uncertainty of their role as pollinators. Using high-throughput
pollen metabarcoding, we compiled interactions from 24400 individuals from
504 species of tropical diurnal and nocturnal pollinators. We investigated
the role of different functional groups in a comprehensive pollen transfer
network, employing tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) as a model to
disentangle the effect of settling moths on network connectivity along a
recovery chronosequence. Tiger moths were central generalists, amassing
more interactions with plants than any other pollinator group, and were
the main connecting agents between network modules. Moreover, they served
as network hubs alongside pioneer plant genera, which were their primary
resources. Tiger moth dominance was maintained throughout four decades of
passive restoration, but increased in the canopies of older forests.
Dominance was primarily driven by their high abundance and diversity,
which resulted in more interactions per unit of sampling effort. Moreover,
moth functional morphology drove specialization and centrality patterns.
Our results underline a largely neglected functional group of nocturnal
pollinators as prominent floral visitors, key to ecosystem stability and
recovery. morphology drove specialization and centrality
patterns. Our results underline a largely neglected functional group of
nocturnal pollinators as a prominent functional group of pollinators key
to ecosystem stability and recovery.