New species of Hyposmocoma (Lepidoptera, Cosmopterigidae) from the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Laysan, Necker, and Nihoa

The endemic Hawaiian cosmopterigid moth genus Hyposmocoma Butler, 1881 contains 315 described species, making it one of the Archipelago’s most diverse radiations. However, only one species was previously described as endemic to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), and prior taxonomic work in the region has been problematic. The NWHI represent a series of much older island remnants and atolls that were formerly high islands of much greater diversity. Systematic relationships within and between Hyposmocoma on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands may have implications for understanding not only the biogeography of Hyposmocoma but of Hawaiian radiations in general. We describe eight new species of Hyposmocoma endemic to the NWHI: H. laysanensis sp. nov. and H. ekemamao sp. nov. from Laysan Island, H. opuumaloo sp. nov. and H. mokumana sp. nov. from Necker Island, and H. nihoa sp. nov., H. kikokolu sp. nov., H. menehune sp. nov., and H. papahanau sp. nov. from Nihoa Island. This work represents the first inclusive taxonomic treatment of Hyposmocoma in the NWHI and may serve as a basis for studies both of Hyposmocoma, and broader biogeographic research on the NWHI.