Coleotichus blackburniae as they develop. This insect occurs on all the main islands of Hawaii. They are found on `a`ali`i ("Dodonaea viscosa") bushes and koa ("Acacia koa") trees. Also found on Formosan Koa (Acacia confusa) which is native to Southeast Asia. It has been commonly used in Hawaii as an ornamental landscape tree that has been deemed invasive. A. confusa and A. koa both have distinctive phyllodes that differentiate each species but since its introduction C. blackburniae has been recorded to associate with the invasive Formosan koa. Common to all true bugs, this species has no mouth parts with which to bite,
Lesser koa finch was smaller than the other scientifically described koa finches, measuring on average only five inches in length. Its life cycle and feeding habits apparently centered around the koa plant from which it got nectar and fruit (and for which it was named). The koa also provided refuge for small flocks of the finch as it avoided people and the noon high sun. It was seen congregating with its larger relative, the greater koa-finch. Several specimens were collected and sent to London, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia, and Berlin. The bird appeared to have always had a small population. When people brought