Rare Sighting of Endangered Moth Species on Hawaiian Islands

In a significant discovery for conservation efforts in Hawaii, wildlife crews found Blackburn's Sphinx Moth caterpillars on the islands of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. The finding marks the first recorded sighting of the species on Molokaʻi since the 1940s.

The discovery was made in May 2026, when crews found 10 endangered caterpillars in Lānaʻi City. This was followed by further sightings in Halawa Valley and Kalae on Molokaʻi during May and June.

The presence of the moth had likely remained undiscovered until now, with records suggesting a viable population remains on Lānaʻi.