Cryptophlebia illepida Cryptophlebia illepida Cryptophlebia illepida is a species of moth in the family Tortricidae that is endemic to the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lānai and Hawaii. Common names include koa seedworm, klu tortricid, koa seed moth, litchi borer, litchi moth, macadamia nut borer and macadamia nut moth. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1882. The wingspan is 12–25 mm. It is an extremely variable species. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants. Recorded food plants are "Acacia confusa", "Acacia farnesiana", "Acacia koa", "Acacia koaia", "Alectryon macrococcus", "Caesalpinia kavaiensis", "Dodonaea viscosa", "Inga edulis", "Litchi chinensis",
Acacia koa used by ancient Hawaiians to build "waa" (dugout outrigger canoes) and "papa hee nalu" (surfboards). Only "paipo" (bodyboards), "kikoo", and "alaia" surfboards were made from koa, however; "olo", the longest surfboards, were made from the lighter and more buoyant "wiliwili" ("Erythrina sandwicensis"). The reddish wood is very similar in strength and weight to that of Black Walnut ("Juglans nigra"), with a specific gravity of 0.55, and is sought for use in wood carving and furniture. Koa is also a tonewood, often used in the construction of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars. B.C. Rich used koa on some