Hyposmocoma lignivora
Encyclopedia
Hyposmocoma lignivora is a species of moth
of the Cosmopterigidae
family. It is endemic to Oahu
and Molokai
. This is a common and widely distributed moth on Oahu.
This was the first endemic species of Hawaiian Microlepidoptera to be described.
The larvae are common in rotten wood and under dead bark of various trees, native and introduced, including Pisonia
, Tetraplasandra
and Wikstroemia
. True lignivora appears to occur on Oahu and Molokai, but associated distinct forms evidently also occur on Molokai and perhaps on Oahu.
The larvae live in large brown cases. The cases are often found in large numbers beneath the bark of dead trees.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Cosmopterigidae
Cosmopterigidae
Cosmopterigidae is a family of insects in the Lepidoptera order. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds, stems, etc of their host plants. There are about 1,500 described species...
family. It is endemic to Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
. This is a common and widely distributed moth on Oahu.
This was the first endemic species of Hawaiian Microlepidoptera to be described.
The larvae are common in rotten wood and under dead bark of various trees, native and introduced, including Pisonia
Pisonia
Pisonia is a genus of flowering plants in the four o'clock flower family, Nyctaginaceae. It was named for Dutch physician and naturalist Willem Piso . Certain species in this genus are known as Catchbirdtrees because their sticky seeds reportedly trap small birds...
, Tetraplasandra
Tetraplasandra
Tetraplasandra is a genus of flowering plants in the ivy family, Araliaceae. It comprises seven species, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.-Species:*Tetraplasandra flynnii Lowry & K.R.Wood...
and Wikstroemia
Wikstroemia
Wikstroemia is a genus of 55-70 species of flowering shrubs and small trees in the mezereon family, Thymelaeaceae.-Medicinal uses:Wikstroemia indica is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.-Species:...
. True lignivora appears to occur on Oahu and Molokai, but associated distinct forms evidently also occur on Molokai and perhaps on Oahu.
The larvae live in large brown cases. The cases are often found in large numbers beneath the bark of dead trees.