Overview

• The newly described caterpillar species, part of the Hyposmocoma genus, was formally documented in *Science* by a University of Hawaiʻi team led by Daniel Rubinoff.
• Endemic to a six-square-kilometer area on Oʻahu, the species is exceptionally rare, with only 62 individuals observed after years of fieldwork.
• The caterpillar preys on various insects, including conspecifics, and uses the remains of its prey to construct a protective and camouflaging cloak.
• It inhabits spider webs, stealing prey from them, and its camouflage appears effective, as no individuals have been observed being captured by spiders.
• Genetic analysis indicates the species diverged from other carnivorous Hyposmocoma lineages around five million years ago, highlighting Hawaii’s unique evolutionary pathways.