Scotorythra paludicola Scotorythra paludicola Scotorythra paludicola, the koa looper moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879. It is endemic to the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. The larvae mainly feed on "Acacia koa", but have also been recorded from "Falcataria moluccana", "Grevillea" and "Tristania" species. On occasion, this species develops enormous populations and defoliates entire areas with koa trees. During a recent outbreak of "S. paludicola" in 2013 on Hawaii Island, larvae were found to feed on isolated populations of the invasive tree "Falcataria moluccana" near Akaka Falls
Acacia koaia It can be seen on ranch land in North Kohala, and at a small fenced exclosure outside of Waimea known as the "koaia" sanctuary. "Koaia" is one of the species being used to revegetate the island of Kahoolawe, which lost most of its plant life to overgrazing and ordnance testing. Native Hawaiians ground "koaia" leaves and bark with "auaukoi" ("Senna occidentalis") and "kikānia pipili" ("Desmodium sandwicense") stalks. The mixture was then hydrated and used in a steam bath to treat diseased skin. The wood of "koaia" is harder and more dense than that of "koa". It was used to make