Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities: A Future for Moth Studies in Australia

This final chapter summarizes the responses to a questionnaire sent to all authors soliciting opinions on knowledge gaps, future directions and technological opportunities for students of moth studies in Australia going forward. Almost all higher taxa demand more work but particular groups such as the Oecophoridae, the basal families, Heliozelidae and several others are obvious near-term targets. Spodoptera frugiperda and Heliothis punctifera were highlighted as demanding particular attention from applied researchers. Geographical areas requiring further attention are legion. Further work on the drier ecosystems west of the eastern ranges and on hard-to-access habitat islands such as mountain tops and mangroves is suggested. Biogeographical links between Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea all require further elucidation. Technological developments in molecular, artificial intelligence and other fields will assist future studies, as will ongoing engagement with amateur and citizen scientists. The role of moths in providing ecosystem services needs to be promoted and their public image as drab and pestiferous needs to be revised. There are clear future roles for professional and amateur societies in achieving these goals.