The Bone Collector Caterpillar’s Ingenious Survival Tactics in Hawaii

The bone collector caterpillar, a member of the unusual Hyposmocoma genus. Yet its incredible survival strategies have garnered far less attention. Endemic to the Hawaiian islands, particularly found on Oahu, this carnivorous caterpillar weaves the remains of its insect prey onto its protective case for camouflage. This unusual behavior, in particular, renders it the only known caterpillar to dwell within spider predation hotbeds. It further pierces, tattoos and paints itself with a scheme of body adornment.

This amazing bug jailer adorns its home with body parts from no less than six families of insects. The beauty is astounding. Among other objects, the collection includes an ant head, a weevil head, and a fly leg, bee thorax, a fly wing and a bark beetle abdomen. These adaptations augment its camouflage. Finally, they hide its color and feel, helping the beast to disappear completely into the background.

The bone collector caterpillar’s ancestry goes back at least six million years. Scientists think a long-lost relative of this remarkable species made the trek to Oahu from a neighboring island. As time passed, it evolved to fill the island’s distinctive ecological niche. More than 20 years of research has uncovered just 62 total known specimens, all found within a small 15-square-kilometer range.

After all, only one bone collector caterpillar can typically claim residence in a spider’s web. It feeds on many of the insects that are caught by a spider’s web. It adorns its shell with detritus from past meals and even sloughs off skin. This ingenious tactic allows it to remain incognito and avoid detection by even the most adept of predators. The caterpillar’s strategy is best expressed by Dan Rubinoff, who once said, “This is a decorate or die situation.”

After a few months of feeding, the bone collector caterpillar adds the last touch to the end of its case. It then goes into metamorphosis and becomes a moth. This intricate relationship with its environment showcases not only the caterpillar’s adaptability but highlights the delicate balance of life in Hawaii’s unique ecosystems.