Hyposmocoma molluscivora

Hyposmocoma molluscivora, sometimes called mollusc eater or shellfish eaters, is on the island of Maui (Hawaii ) in 2005 discovered butterfly species, which belongs to the family of the splendor butterfly ( Cosmopterigidae ). The caterpillars fall to by their unique hunting behavior.

Occurrence

The animals are found only in the rainforest of four of the five islands of Hawaii.

Features

The caterpillars have a shiny black head and a light brown body. On their backs they carry one, like a sleeping bag looking silk tank, which they also use to pupate.

Way of life

From the life of this butterfly is not yet much known.

Hunting behavior of the caterpillar

Due to the insularity of Hawaii and thus given isolated habitat has been able to develop a unique hunting behavior in the caterpillars of this kind, which was documented by the team led by Daniel Rubinoff of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Of the more than 150,000 known species of butterfly are known as silkworm total of only 200 as predatory and additionally. The carnivorous larvae of Hyposmocoma molluscivora belong and are together with about four closely related species, the only known, only consume snails and their silk also use it to capture the prey. The approximately seven to ten millimeters long caterpillars live on leaves, but they can not eat. They disguise themselves with a housing made of silk, in which they have incorporated moss and leaves and look for a roughly equal snail of the genus Tornatellides who are just resting on a sheet or sleeping. Then the shell with the silken threads is attached to the sheet so that the mollusc as " bound " not to drop it or escape or retreat into his house and can seal it. This process usually takes about half an hour. If the prey then secured so the caterpillars crawl out of their homespun quiver, crawl into the mouth of the snail shell and eat the worm alive. The meal usually lasts all day, and some of the caterpillars then carry the empty snail shell around with you. According to the researchers, this is probably the camouflage.

As a frequent feature of caterpillars, which are unable to utilize another food, they also have an inflexible digestive system.