Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Cosmopterigidae Scientific name Hyposmocoma empedota | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Hyposmocoma Rank Species | |
Hyposmocoma empedota is a species of moth of the Cosmopterigidae family. It is endemic to Oahu. The type locality are the Koolau Mountains behind Honolulu.
The larvae probably feed on lichens on the bark of Acacia koa, Manihot glaziovii, Prosopis and other trees. The larva is a case-maker. The case does not have the wide flange that the case of Hyposmocoma alliterata has.
The development of the pseuduncuslike organs on the male abdomen is extraordinary. There is a large one on the right side of the seventh segment, a similar long one from the left side of the sixth segment, and much smaller ones on the left side of the seventh segment and the right side of the sixth segment.
References
Hyposmocoma empedota Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA