Overview

• Researchers have identified a carnivorous caterpillar in Hawaii that uniquely uses the remains of trapped insects to camouflage itself and steal prey from spider webs.
• The species, belonging to the endemic Hyposmocoma genus, is confined to a six-square-mile volcanic slope on Oahu, making it highly vulnerable to habitat threats.
• The caterpillar exclusively selects and sizes real insect body parts for its silk case, a behavior confirmed through laboratory experiments.
• This ancient lineage dates back over six million years, predating the formation of the current Hawaiian Islands, and represents a rare example of predatory caterpillars worldwide.
• With only 62 individuals documented over two decades, scientists warn of conservation concerns due to invasive species and the caterpillar's restricted habitat.