CR

Laysan Hedyleptan Moth

Omiodes laysanensis

Unknown

Overview

The Laysan hedyleptan moth, sometimes also known as the Laysan leafroller moth, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to Laysan in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It was described by American entomologist Otto Herman Swezey in 1914 based on three specimens collected from Laysan in 1912, but has not been recorded since, and may be extinct.

Omiodes laysanensis faces extreme vulnerability due to its restriction to Laysan Island, a small coral atoll covering only 1.6 square kilometers in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The species' survival is threatened by habitat degradation from invasive plant species that alter the native vegetation structure essential for its lifecycle. Climate change poses an additional severe risk through sea level rise and increased storm intensity, which could devastate the low-lying island habitat. The moth's limited dispersal ability and small population size make recovery from disturbances extremely difficult.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic moth inhabits the native shrubland and grassland communities of Laysan Island, a remote coral atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The species depends on the island's specialized vegetation, including native bunch grasses and low shrubs that have adapted to the harsh, salt-spray environment.

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in CRAMBIDAE

VU

Omiodes asaphombra

Declining
VU

Moth

Eudonia melanographa

Stable
CR

Omiodes epicentra

Unknown
VU

Kohala Mountain Sedge Leafroller Moth

Omiodes anastreptoides

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Laysan Hedyleptan Moth classified as Critically Endangered?
Laysan Hedyleptan Moth is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Omiodes laysanensis faces extreme vulnerability due to its restriction to Laysan Island, a small coral atoll covering only 1.6 square kilometers in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The species' survival is threatened by habitat degradation from invasive plant species that alter the native vegetation structure essential for its lifecycle. Climate change poses an additional severe risk through sea level rise and increased storm intensity, which could devastate the low-lying island habitat. The moth's limited dispersal ability and small population size make recovery from disturbances extremely difficult.
Where does Laysan Hedyleptan Moth live?
Laysan Hedyleptan Moth occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Laysan Hedyleptan Moth?
The main threats to Laysan Hedyleptan Moth are 8.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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