Systematic relationships of Hyposmocoma, Hawaii's most ecologically diverse lineage

For over 100 years after its description, Hyposmocoma was a poorly understood genus, or group of genera, whose synapomorphies, monophyly and diversity were unclear. Considering the group is the most ecologically diverse and widespread in the Hawaiian Archipelago, this ignorance left a significant gap in our understanding of Hawaiian insect evolution and diversity. Recent work by our team has revealed the nature and extreme diversity of Hyposmcoma, as well as confirmed and refined our understanding of its monophyly and evolution. The genus is monophyletic and likely one of the oldest extant lineages, arriving perhaps >30mya. We will present the systematics and biogeography of the entire genus, including reference to their remarkable ecologies. There are at least 12 species groups, distinguished by larval case variation. Significant challenges remain for the conservation for a genus which yields many new species every year, all of which are restricted to specific parts of single volcanoes.