Oliarus kalaupapae explained

Oliarus kalaupapae, the Moloka'i cave planthopper, is a species of Oliarus planthopper endemic to the island of Moloka'i, where it inhabits lava tubes.

Description

Oliarus kalaupapae is among the least visibly cave-adapted of the Hawaiian cave planthoppers, and still retains wings and eyes (unlike Oliarus polyphemus and Oliarus priola on Hawai'i island and Maui, respectively). Adults are uniformly yellow colored and reach up to 5.6mm long, with females being slightly larger than males.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Olarius kalaupapae is only found on the island of Moloka'i, where it is to restricted to dark caves and crevices. It inhabits lava tubes formed by the long-extinct East Moloka'i volcano hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Notes and References

  1. Hoch, Hannelore, and Frank G. Howarth. "Multiple cave invasions by species of the planthopper genus Oliarus in Hawaii (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae)." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 127.4 (1999): 453-475.