The intractable evolutionary mystery of Hawaii’s most diverse radiation, the fancy case caterpillars (Hyposmocoma:Cosmopterigidae)

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

4:30 PM – 4:42 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 212

Presenting Author(s)

Daniel Rubinoff

Professor
University of Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawai'i

Co-Author(s)

MS

Michael San Jose

University of Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawai'i
CD

Camiel Doorenweerd

University of Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawai'i
KA

Kyhl Austin

University of Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawai'i
SG

Scott M. Geib

Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
Hilo, Hawai'i
jd

julian dupuis

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Hawaii is a hotspot of adaptive radiations and the most ecologically diverse are the Hyposmocoma moths with approximately 600 species. This endemic genus of tiny moths occurs from sea level to over 3,000m on every island across the archipelago, including the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands. They exhibit single island endemism, and a diversity of highly specialized ecologies including amphibious caterpillars and the only snail-eating caterpillars on the planet. Molecular data, to-date, has not deciphered the explosive origins of this unprecedented diversity, but new genomic data reveals some startling possibilities.