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Scotorythra paludicola
Koa Moth
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Photographer: Eric White
ID: 0000 0000 0513 1823 (2013-05-19)Copyright © 2013 Eric White
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INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
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date of photo May 11, 2013
latitude 19.81333 longitude -155.27927 max error distance 7639 meters
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horizontal datum World Geodetic System 1984 georeferencing source GeoLocatelocation
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (Hawaii, Big Island (Hawaiian Islands), US)family
Geometridae
order
Lepidoptera
class Insecta
habitat Wet to mesic Koa forestsnotes These moths are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The caterpillar is often referred to as a 'looper' because of its' inchworm movements. The caterpillars eat Koa (Acacia koa) phyllodes (which look like leaves). Population explosions have been documented on Maui and Hawaii but the outbreak in 2013 on Hawaii caused the largest defoliation of Koa ever documented (35,000 acres). In 2013 they also defoliated stands of Albizia trees (non-native) near Akaka Falls. This is the first time that defoliation of a species besides Koa has been observed. Koa trees usually recover unless they are under other stress. This moth was in one of the buidlings at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge at around 6300ft. The trees in this area were not defoliated but scraping of the phyllodes and missing sections near the margin were common. The last outbreak on Hawaii island was in the 1950's.camera Nikon D80 Nikkor 60mm
photo category: Animal - Invertebrate-Insect
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ANIMAL
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| common names
Koa Moth (photographer)
View all photos in CalPhotos of Scotorythra paludicola Check Google Images for Scotorythra paludicola |
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The photographer's identification Scotorythra paludicola has not been reviewed. Click here to review or comment on the identification. |
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Using this photo The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2013 Eric White.
For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Eric White eric.white[AT]noaa.gov. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.) |
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