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
Koa wilt species of koa-finches, "Rhodacanthis palmeri" and "R. flaviceps", which fed on green koa seed pods. These species are now extinct due to habitat loss and avian malaria. It is important to preserve the remaining koa populations to helpt to avoid further native bird extinctions. Koa also has great cultural importance for native Hawaiians. The name “koa” means "brave, bold, fearless" or "warrior" in Hawaiian. Koa wood was used extensively in ancient Hawaiian society for constructing houses, spears, tools, canoe paddles, kahili (feathered standards of royalty), calabashes, ceremonies, and surfboards. Canoes were, and still are, carved from the trunks of koa