| Hyposmocoma eliai | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Cosmopterigidae |
| Genus: | Hyposmocoma |
| Species: | H. eliai |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyposmocoma eliai P. Schmitz & Rubinoff, 2011 |
|
Hyposmocoma eliai is a species of moth of the Cosmopterigidae family. It is endemic to Kauai. Larvae were collected on large barren volcanic rocks placed along the shoreline to reduce erosion in Nawiliwili bay.
The wingspan is 4.5–5.2 mm for males and 4.6-5.7 mm for females.
The larvae live in a larval case which has the form of a bag-shaped structure covered with minute particles of sand finely woven with silk.[1]
The species is named in honor of Elia Schmitz, three year old son of one of the authors.