Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Superfamily Noctuoidea Scientific name Hypocala velans | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Family Erebidae Rank Species | |
Hypocala velans is a moth of the Erebidae family. It is endemic to Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii. It was thought to be extinct until a single specimen was collected at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a in April 1995.
Adults of this species are known to roost in caves.
The larvae feed on Maba sandwicensis. Full-grown caterpillars are about 40 mm and have a fuscous-brown color which is nearly uniform, but on close examination is found to be made up of dark fuscous or black with numerous crinkled longitudinal lines of a lavender color.
References
Hypocala velans Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA