This new caterpillar species from Oʻahu hunts insects and decorates itself with their body parts. Yes, it’s real—and it’s ...

The caterpillar species with a macabre fashion sense was discovered by researchers in Hawaii. Its casing is a disguise to fool the spiders with which it lives. Updated April 24, 2025.

While the caterpillar appears adaptable — it lives on the webs of at least four non-native spider species — its narrow range and complex behavior make it particularly vulnerable.

The caterpillar, a previously unknown species, is a member of a group of moths called Hyposmocoma native to Hawaii that includes hundreds of species and arose about 12 million years ago.

Scientists in Hawaii have discovered a new, extremely rare species: carnivorous, bone-collecting caterpillars, that live in one 5-mile area on Oahu.