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 confirmed this close relationship; the estimated time of divergence is about 1.4 million years ago. "A. heterophylla" sequences nest within those of the more diverse "A. koa", making the latter paraphyletic. Both species are thought to be descended from an ancestral species in Australia, presumably their sister species, "Acacia melanoxylon". Dispersals most likely occurred via seed-carrying by birds such as petrels. Both species have very similar ecological niches, which differ from that of "A. melanoxylon". A closely related species, koaia or koaie ("A. koaia"), is found in dry areas. It is most easily distinguished by having smaller seeds that are