Tag Archives: Erebidae

Bocula limbata (Butler)

Bordered Bocula Moth (Bocula limbata)

The Bordered Bocula Moth was described in 1888; it is, or rather was, restricted to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The species has not been found since the 1930s and is thought to be extinct now. [1]

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References:

[1] John Woinarski: A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia 2018

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Depiction from: ‘Charles William Andrews: A monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London: printed by order of the Trustees 1900’

(public domain)

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edited: 25.04.2022

Anomis vulpicolor (Meyrick)

Fox-colored Owlet Moth (Anomis vulpicolor)  

The Fox-colored Owlet Moth was described in 1928.  

The species, which had a wingspan of 4,4 cm, is known from the islands of Hawai’i, Moloka’i, and O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, but certainly inhabited the islands of Kaua’i and Maui too.  

The caterpillars fed on ‘Ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (Sm.) Lindl.), a plant species that actually is still very common, even today. [1]  

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The Fox-colored Owlet Moth is considered probably extinct since the last records took place sometimes before 1960 [?].  

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References:  

[1] Elwood C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 7, Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1958  

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edited: 10.04.2018

Hypena senicula (Meyrick)

Kaholuamano Owlet Moth (Hypena senicula)  

The Kaholuamano Owlet Moth was described in 1928, the species was found at a place named Kaholuamano on the island of Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands.  

The moth reached a wingspan of about 4 cm.  

The species was originally thought to be a color morph of the Obsolete Owlet Moth (Hypena obsoleta Butler), but differs from that species by its larger wingspan. [1]  

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References:  

[1] E. C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 7, Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1958  

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edited: 31.03.2018

Hypena newelli (Swezey)

Hilo Owlet Moth (Hypena newelli)  

The Hilo Owlet Moth was described in 1912, it occurred near the city of Hilo in the eastern part of Big Island, Hawaiian Islands.  

The species reached a wingspan of about 3,1 cm.  

The species’ biology is completely unknown, as appears to be the reasons for its extinction. [1]  

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References:  

[1] E. C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 7, Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1958 

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edited: 31.03.2018

Hypena laysanensis (Swezey)

Laysan Owlet Moth (Hypena laysanensis)  

The Laysan Owlet Moth was described in 1913, it was endemic to the island of Laysan in the northwestern part of the Hawaiian island chain, but may also have occurred on the Pearl & Hermes Reef.  

The quite variable species reached a wingspan of about 2,2 to 2,5 cm.  

The caterpillars of this species were found feeding on the leaves of ‘aki ‘aki (Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth). [2]  

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Referenzen:  

[1] Otto H. Swezey: Two new species of moths from Laysan Island. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 3: 18-19. 1913
[2] E. C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 7, Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1958  

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edited: 25.09.2019

Hypena plagiota (Meyrick)

Lovegrass Owlet Moth (Hypena plagiota)  

The Lovegrass Owlet Moth, which was described in 1899, occurred on the islands of Kaua’i and O’ahu, where it inhabited areas at higher elevations, the species probably also occurred on Hawai’i and Maui.  

The quite variable colored species reached a wingspan of about 3 cm.  

The caterpillars fed on several grass species from the genera Eragrostis, among them Eragrostis fosbergii Whitney, Eragrostis grandis Hillebr., and Eragrostis variabilis (Gaudich.) Steud.. [1]  

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References:  

[1] E. C. Zimmerman: Insects of Hawaii 7, Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1958  

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Depiction from: ‘Fauna Hawaiiensis; being the land-fauna of the Hawaiian Islands. by various authors, 1899-1913. Cambridge [Eng.]: The University Press 1913’ 

(public domain) 

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edited: 31.03.2018