Using hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) as model organisms, we address current macroecological questions in relation to tropical herbivorous insects, a notoriously underrepresented group in such studies despite their major contribution to global biodiversity.

Based on presence-only data from published literature, museum collections and own sampling we use GIS modelling to estimate ranges for moth species. Resulting patterns of species richness and assemblage composition will be analyzed with regard to phylogeny and species-traits on the one hand, geographic parameters of the landscape on the other hand.