Environmental DNA profiling for detecting plant-insect interactions in endangered and native flora

Abstract

Pugh, A., Trower, M., Mercier, C., Bartlett, M., Sutherland, R., Cridge, A., 2025. Environmental DNA profiling for detecting plant-insect interactions in endangered and native flora. Folia Oecologica, 52 (1): 82–90. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an established technique for studying plant-insect interactions, that has so far had very limited use in exploring flower-visiting insect communities. This study provides important evidence of the effectiveness of eDNA for studying flower-visiting insects, proving its ability to provide a comprehensive overview of pollinator communities beyond traditional observational methods. Our data revealed a surprising diversity of flower-visiting insects, including both expected pollinators and possible non-pollinating species utilising pollen and/or nectar as a nutritional resource. Native bees, such as Leioproctus spp., and various flies, including those with uncertain roles in pollination, were detected. This study also shed light on the underexplored area of nocturnal pollination, providing evidence of native moth involvement in pollinating plant species. While there was no definitive evidence of rare insects visiting mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) or Lophomyrtus spp., this study did reveal the importance of these plant species and the resources the flowers provide not just to pollinators, but insects with other key roles in the ecosystem.