In May 2026, Hawaii wildlife crews found 10 endangered caterpillars on Lānaʻi. Weeks later, they found the same moth on Molokaʻi for the first time since the 1940s

Hawaii wildlife crews made a rare discovery in May 2026 when they found 10 Blackburn’s Sphinx Moth caterpillars in Lānaʻi City, as per a report.

The endangered moth is rarely observed, making the discovery notable. But the findings continued. During May and June, the same crews found Blackburn’s Sphinx Moth caterpillars in Halawa Valley and Kalae on Molokaʻi, as per The Pulse report. These were the first recorded sightings of the species on the island since the 1940s.