What is "hyposmocoma"

Hyposmocoma is a large and diverse genus of moths with 320-350 known species that have adapted to nearly every ecological niche on the Hawaiian Islands. Most species have plant-based diets. In four species of Hyposmocoma (one is Hyposmocoma molluscivora) caterpillars spin silk that they use to capture snails, on which they prey. These are the first caterpillars known to eat snails (or mollusks of any kind). Some species are amphibious. This trait has evolved at least 3 times within this genus.

"It's really remarkable—even within a diverse genus it's remarkable," said Daniel Rubinoff, an entomologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, who led the team that discovered the caterpillar's dietary habits.