Dietary Plant Diversity in Seven Moth Species (Lepidoptera) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Seven moth species (Lepidoptera) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo were analysed using trnL metabarcoding to reveal plant diversity from gut contents at both immature and adult stages. This study aims to provide insights into the different plant species consumed by moths during the caterpillar stage, when they feed on plant leaves, and during the adult stage, when they specialise in nectar feeding during the pollination of night-blooming species and wild forest trees. This study also provides insight into differences in plant species composition across habitats, including peat swamp forest, mangroves, and secondary forest. The molecular results from this study can be used to provide a plant inventory for each forest and to support forest health monitoring by identifying endangered and threatened plant species according to the IUCN.