Hyposmocoma makawao Kawahara & Rubinoff

Kawahara, Akito Y. & Rubinoff, Daniel, 2012, Three new species of Fancy Case caterpillars from threatened forests of Hawaii (Lepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae, Hyposmocoma), ZooKeys 170, pp. 1-20 : 9

Hyposmocoma makawao Kawahara & Rubinoff sp. n. Figs 4815

Diagnosis.

Hyposmocoma makawao differs from any other species in the genus. No other species has a single, thick, transverse orange band near the base of the forewing.

Description.

Male. (n = 1; Fig. 4). Forewing length 4.8 mm. Head brown with iron-red scales near outer margin of eye; scales large near vertex. Haustellum pale brown. Maxillary palpus reduced. Labial palpus curved with pale brown scales, scales dark brown along lateral margin of labial palpus. Antennal flagellum dark brown along dorsal surface, lighter brown ventrally. Thorax reddish brown, laterally brown with patches of lighter brown scales below forewing. Foreleg and midleg with brown scales, scales dark brown laterally. Hindleg same as midleg, but with long scales along dorsal margin. Spines on legs light brown. Forewing dark brown with a single, wide fiery red-brown transverse fascia one fourth from the base of the wing to apex and narrowing towards costal margin. Abdomen covered in dark brown scales dorsally, light brown scales covering ventral surface.

Male genitalia. (Fig. 15). Right brachium of uncus sickle shaped, slender, heavily sclerotized, widening slightly at 1/2 length, slightly twisted to left. Left brachium small, not sclerotized. Tegumen wide and sclerotized. Valvae asymmetrical, left valva slightly wider than right, valvae without large sclerotized setae or sockets along dorsal margin. Dense row of fine, hair-like setae along inner ventral margin of both valvae. Phallus stout, blunt tipped, heavily sclerotized, open ventrally, and bent ventrad at about 1/2 of length; vesica without spines or cornuti. Anellus with two symmetrical rounded lobes with fine setae.

Female. (n = 1). Same as male, but with forewing length 4.9 mm.

Larval case. (n = 7; Fig. 8). The case is 4.1-5.0 mm in length and 1.2-1.6 mm wide, smooth with banding that follows the length of the case. Two wide, dark bands form a “V” that crosses over the central region of the case.

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂, [1] Printed white label: 'H[AWAI]I: Maui, Makawao Forest Reserve | elev[ation]: 3500 ft, on Koa branches | “purse” case, I-30-[20]09, #DR08K12A | coll[ector]. W[illiam]. Haines’; [2] Printed red label: 'HOLOTYPE | Hyposmocoma makawao Kawahara & Rubinoff’. Male genitalia slide AYK103. Specimen in perfect condition. Paratype: 1♀: same data as holotype, but emergence date 13-Feb-2009, abdomen missing. Cases (7): same data as holotype. All specimens stored in the UHIM.

Specimens sequenced.

Two specimens from Maui with UH log number DR08K12A, extraction codes DN114, DN1320. The specimen from which extract DN114 was taken was tentatively called “Hsp67” before being given this formal name.

Etymology.

This species is named “makawao” after its type locality, Makawao Forest Reserve, Maui.

Biology.

Case-making larvae were collected at Makawao Forest Reserve (MFR), Maui. Samples were collected using a beat-sheet, placed under branches of the koa tree ( Acacia koa Gray).

Distribution.

Known only from the MFR, which harbors an extraordinary diverse natural fauna and flora, and is the only known locality for several species of Hyposmocoma , including Hyposmocoma domicolens (Butler, 1881), Hyposmocoma molluscivora Rubinoff & Haines, 2005, Hyposmocoma opuulaau Schmitz & Rubinoff, 2011, Hyposmocoma pukoa Schmitz & Rubinoff, 2011, and Hyposmocoma pupumoehewa Schmitz & Rubinoff, 2011. Unfortunately, the native habitat has been in sharp decline, even during the short course of this project, due to ongoing damage from invasive ungulates. If conservation action is not soon taken, it is likely that many of the rare plants and animals that remain in this mixed mesic forest will disappear.