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Geometridae

(Family)

Overview

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The geometer moths or Geometridae are a of the order Lepidoptera. A very large family, it has around 26,000 species of moths described (over 300 of which occur in the British Isles). A well-known member is the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia, which has been subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are rather notorious pests.

Adults

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Many Geometrids have slender abdomens and broad wings which are usually held flat with the hindwings visible. As such they appear rather butterfly-like but in most respects they are typical moths: the majority fly at night, they possess a frenulum to link the wings and the antennae of the males are often feathered. They tend to blend in to the background, often with intricate, wavy patterns on their wings. In some species, females have reduced wings (e.g. winter moth and fall cankerworm).

Most are of moderate size, about 3 cm in wingspan, but a range of sizes occur. They have distinctive paired tympanal organs at the base of the abdomen (lacking in flightless females).

Caterpillars

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Caterpillar locomotion

The name "Geometridae" ultimately derives from geometer ("earth-measurer"). This refers to the means of locomotion of the larvae or caterpillars, which lack most of the prolegs of other Lepidopteran caterpillars. Equipped with appendages at both ends of the body, a caterpillar will clasp with its front legs and draw up the hind end, then clasp with the hind end (prolegs) and reach out for a new front attachment - creating the impression that it is measuring its journey. The caterpillars are accordingly called loopers, spanworms, or inchworms. They tend to be green, grey, or brownish and hide from predators by fading into the background or resembling twigs. Some have humps or filaments (see Filament-bearer image). They are seldom hairy or gregarious. Typically they eat leaves. However, some eat lichen, flowers or pollen. Some, such as the Hawaiian species of the genus Eupithecia, are even carnivorous.

Systematics

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The placement of the example species follows a 1990 systematic; it may be outdated. Families are tentatively sorted in a phylogenetic sequence, from the most basal to the most advanced. Traditionally the Archiearinae were held tobe the most ancient of the geometer moth lineages, as their caterpillars have prolegs. However, it nowadays seems that the Larentiinae are actually older, as indicated by their numerous plesiomorphies and DNA sequence data. They are either an extremely basal lineage of the Geometridae – together with the Sterrhinae –, or might even be considered a separate family of Geometroidea. As regards the Archiearinae, some species that were traditionally placed therein actually seem to belong to other subfamilies; altogether it seems that in a few cases, the prolegs which were originally lost in the ancestral geometer moths re-evolved as an atavism.[1].

Larentiinae - about 5,700 species, includes the pug moths, mostly temperate. Might be a distinct family[1].

Sterrhinae - about2,800 species, mostly tropical

Desmobathrinae - pantropical

Geometrinae - emerald moths, about 2,300 named species, most tropical

Archiearinae - 12[verification needed] species; Holarctic, southern Andes and Tasmania, though the latter some seem to belong to the Ennominae[1]. Larvae have all the prolegs except most are reduced.

Oenochrominae - in some treatments used as a "wastebin taxon" for genera that are difficult to place in other groups.

Alsophilinae - a few genera, defoliators of trees. Might belong in the Ennominae, tribe Boarmiini[1].

Ennominae - about 9,700 species, including some defoliating pests; global distribution.

Geometridae genera incertae sedis include:

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Family Geometridae is a member of the Superfamily Geometroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Geometridae:

The Family Geometridae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abraxas

The word Abraxas (or Abrasax or Abracax) was engraved on certain stones, called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms. The name is found in the Greek Magical Papyri, and the word may be related to the word abracadabra, although other explanations exist. The name is also found in Gnostic texts such as the Gospel of the Egyptians. Abraxas has also been variously claimed throughout the centuries to be an Egyptian god, a demon, and to represent God and Satan in one entity and the dual nature of its essence. [more]

Acidalia

Venus was a major goddess principally associated with love, beauty and fertility, the equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. [more]

Acrasia

Akrasia ( , "lacking command (over oneself)"), occasionally transliterated as acrasia, is the state of acting against one's better judgment. [more]

Actinoloba

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Acypha

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Aeolochroma

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Agriopis

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Alcis

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Aleucis

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Alsophila

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Amoebotricha

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Amraica

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Anaboarmia

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Anavitrinella

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Angerona

In , Angerona or Angeronia was an old Roman goddess, whose name and functions are variously explained. According to ancient authorities, she was a goddess who relieved men from pain and sorrow, or delivered the Romans and their flocks from angina (quinsy). Also she was a protecting goddess of Rome and the keeper of the sacred name of the city, which might not be pronounced lest it should be revealed to her enemies. It was even thought that Angerona itself was this name; a late antique source suggests it was Amor, i.e. Roma inverted. Modern scholars regard her as a goddess akin to Ops, Acca Larentia, and Dea Dia; or as the goddess of the new year and the returning sun (according to Mommsen, ab angerendo = ?p? t?? ??af??es?a?. t?? ?????). Her festival, called Divalia or Angeronalia, was celebrated on the 21st of December. The priests offered sacrifice in the temple of Volupia, the goddess of pleasure, in which stood a statue of Angerona, with a finger on her mouth, which was bound and closed (Macrobius i. 10; Pliny, Nat. Hist. iii. 9; Varro, L. L. vi. 23). She was worshipped as Ancharia at Faesulae, where an altar belonging to her has been discovered. In art, she was depicted with a bandaged mouth and a finger pressed to her lips, demanding silence. [more]

Anisodes

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Anticlea

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Anticollix

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Antonechloris

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Aperia

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Apicia

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Aplocera

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Apochima

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Apodasmia

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Aporhoptrina

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Apostates

Apostasy (IPA: /?'p?st?si/) is the formal or abandonment or renunciation of one's religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. In a technical sense, as used sometimes by sociologists without the pejorative connotations of the word, the term refers to renunciation and criticism of, or opposition to, one's former religion. One who commits apostasy is an apostate, or one who apostatizes. The word derives from Greek ap?stas?a (apostasia), meaning a defection or revolt, from ap?, apo, "away, apart", stas??, stasis, "standing". [more]

Archiearis

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Arichanna

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Ascotis

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Asovia

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Aspilales

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Aspilates

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Aspitates

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Asthena

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Auaxa

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Austrocidaria

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Authaemon

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Auzeodes

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Axiagasta

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Bapta

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Baptria

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Bathycolpodes

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Besma

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Biston

Biston was the son of and Pyrene or Calliope in Greek mythology, a brother of the warlike Cycnus. Biston built the city of Bistonia on the shores of Lake Bistonis in Thrace. He also introduced the Thracian practice of tattooing both men and women with eye-like patterns as a magical fetish, in response to an oracle which guaranteed victory against the neighbouring Edonians tribe if so adorned (cf. Stephanus of Byzantium s.v. Bistonia). The Thracian Bistonians were famous for their warlike nature and cult of Ares whom they worshipped in the form of an upright standing sword. [more]

Bizia

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Boarmia

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Brabira

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Brachyglossina

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Bustilloxia

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Cabera

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Callygris

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Calospilos

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Cambogia

Garcinia is a genus of the family Clusiaceae native to Asia, Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia. The genus, with between 50-300 species of evergreen trees, flowering plants and shrubs, is dioecious and several of its elements are apomictic and jayneioumitic. [more]

Camptogramma

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Carige

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Caripeta

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Carsia

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Casbia

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Casignota

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Casilda

Casilda is a city in the of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is the head town of the Caseros Department, and lies about 45 km (28 mi) west of Rosario and 202 km south-southwest of the provincial capital Santa Fe, on National Route 33. It has a population of about 32,000 inhabitants (2001 census [INDEC]). [more]

Celonoptera

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Cepphis

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Chaetolopha

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Charissa

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Cheimatobia

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Chesias

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Chiasmia

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Chloroclysta

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Chloroclystis

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Chlorodrepana

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Chloroglyphica

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Chondrosoma

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Chorodna

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Chrysolarentia

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Cinglis

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Cirrhosoma

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Cladara

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Cleora

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Coenotephria

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Colocleora

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Colostygia

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Comibaena

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Comostola

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Compsoptera

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Corymica

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Costaconvexa

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Costignophos

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Cotta

A surplice ( superpelliceum, from super, "over" and pellis, "fur") is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church. The surplice has the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton material, reaching to the knee or to the ankles, with wide or moderately wide sleeves. [more]

Crocallis

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Crocota

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Cryphaea

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Cryptochorina

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Ctenognophos

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Culcula

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Culpinia

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Cusiala

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Cyclophora

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Cymatophora

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Cystidia

A cystidium (plural cystidia) is a relatively large cell found on the of a basidiomycete (for example, on the surface of a mushroom gill), often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that are often unique to a particular species or genus, they are a useful characteristic in the microscopic identification of mushrooms and other basidiomycetes. Cystidia are sometimes referred to as sterile cells because they do not produce spores, however this is not correct. If one were to call them "sterile cells" you would have to call all cells in the fungus except the basidia "sterile cells". [more]

Dasyternica

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Dasyuris

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Deilinia

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Descoreba

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Descoreggba

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Diactinia

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Dichromodes

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Dicrognophos

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Digrammia

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Dindica

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Dioptrochasma

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Diploctena

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Diplodesma

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Discoglypha

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Discoloxia

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Drepanogynis

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Duliophyle

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Dysstroma

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Ecpetelia

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Ectephrina

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Ectropis

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Eilicrinia

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Elophos

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Ematurga

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Enanthyperythra

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Enantiodes

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Enconista

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Endropiodes

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Ennomos

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Entephria

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Entogonia

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Epholca

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Epidermia

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Epilobophola

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Epimecus

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Epione

In , Epione was the wife of Asclepius and mother of Panacea, the goddess of medicines, Hygieia, the goddess of health. She was probably also the mother of the famous physicians Machaon and Podalirius, who are mentioned in the Iliad of Homer. [more]

Epiplema

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Epirranthis

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Epirrhoe

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Epirrita

Epirrita is a genus of . They are on the wing from late August to November. [more]

Episteira

Glochidion are a taxon of plants in the Phyllanthaceae. It comprises about 300 species, distributed from Madagascar to the Pacific Islands. Glochidion species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Aenetus eximia and Endoclita damor. [more]

Epyaxa

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Erastria

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Euchlaena

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Euchloris

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Euchoeca

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Euchrognophos

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Eucosmabraxas

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Eucryphodes

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Eucyclodes

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Eulithis

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Eulithus

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Eumannia

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Eumelia

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Euphyia

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Eupithecia

Eupithecia is a large of moths of the family Geometridae. There are hundreds of described species, found in all parts of the world, and new species are discovered on a regular basis. [more]

Eupsamma

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Eurranthis

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Eusarca

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Eustroma

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Eutrapela

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Evecliptopera

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Exotica

Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid 1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania (Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Southeast Asia, and especially Hawaii). While the South Seas forms the core region, exotica reflects the "musical impressions" of every place from standard travel destinations to the mythical "shangri-las" dreamt of by armchair safari-ers. [more]

Fascellina

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Gagitodes

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Gandaritis

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Garaeus

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Gelasma

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Gellonia

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Geodena

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Glacies

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Glossotrophia

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Gnophos

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Godonela

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Godonella

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Gonodontis

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Graphidipus

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Guara

Guará is a municipality in the state of in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 20,226 and the area is 363.72 km². The elevation is 573 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language. [more]

Heliomata

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Herbulotina

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Heterarmia

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Heterolocha

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Heterophleps

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Heterorachis

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Heterostegane

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Heterothera

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Horisme

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Hydria

A hydria is a type of used for carrying water. The hydria has three handles. Two horizontal handles on either side of the body of the pot were used for lifting and carrying the pot. The third handle, a vertical one, located in the center of the other two handles, was used when pouring water. This water vessel can be found in both the red and black figure pottery styles. They often depicted scenes of Greek mythology, that reflected moral and social obligations. [more]

Hydriomena

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Hylemera

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Hypephyra

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Hyperetis

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Hyperythra

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Hypochrosis

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Hypocoela

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Hypomecis

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Idaea

Idaea can mean: [more]

Iodis

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Iridopsis

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Isturgia

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Jankowskia

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Jodis

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Kemtrognophos

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Kuchleria

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Laciniodes

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Lambdina

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Lampropteryx

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Lamproteryx

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Larentia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Lassaba

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Leptostales

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Lidosoma

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Limeria

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Lissocraspeda

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Lithostege

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Lobophora

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Lomographa

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Lophorrhachia

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Luxiaria

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Lygris

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Macaria

In , Macaria was one of the Heracleidae, children of Heracles. She was in Heracleidae, a play by Euripides. She and her brothers and sisters hid from Eursytheus in Athens, ruled by King Demophon. As Eurystheus prepared to attack, an oracle told Demophon that he would win if and only if a noble woman was sacrificed to Persephone. Macaria volunteered for the sacrifice and a spring was named the Macarian spring in her honor. [more]

Martania

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Mauna

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Maxates

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Megalycinia

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Megaspilates

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Melanthia

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Melinodes

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Menophra

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Mesoleuca

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Mesotype

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Metallospora

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Metarranthis

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Metrocampa

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Microcalcarifera

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Microdes

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Microgonia

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Microloxia

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Microlygris

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Mimaplasta

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Monoctenia

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Myinodes

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Myrteta

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Nacophora

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Naxa

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Nebula

A nebula (from : "mist" [1]; pl. nebulae or nebulæ, with ligature or nebulas) is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas and plasma. It is the first stage of a star's cycle. Originally nebula was a general name for any extended astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way (some examples of the older usage survive; for example, the Andromeda Galaxy was referred to as the Andromeda Nebula before galaxies were discovered by Edwin Hubble). Nebulae often form star-forming regions, such as in the Eagle Nebula. This nebula is depicted in one of NASA's most famous images, the "Pillars of Creation". In these regions the formations of gas, dust and other materials 'clump' together to form larger masses, which attract further matter, and eventually will become big enough to form stars. The remaining materials are then believed to form planets, and other planetary system objects. [more]

Nematocampa

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Nemoria

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Neognopharmia

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Neognophina

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Neostega

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Neothysanis

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Ninodes

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Notoreas

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Nychiodes

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Nyctidroma

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Obeidia

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Ochrognesia

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Odontognophos

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Oenoptila

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Oncopus

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Onychodes

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Oporinia

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Ortaliella

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Orthocabera

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Ortholitha

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Orthonama

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Orthonoma

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Ourapteryx

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Oxyfidonia

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Oxymacaria

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Ozola

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Pachyodes

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Panulia

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Parabapta

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Paraboarmia

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Paradarisa

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Pareclipsis

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Parectropis

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Pareulype

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Pasiphila

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Patalene

The very large family Geometridae contains the following genera: [more]

Pennithera

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Peratophyga

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Peratostega

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Percnia

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Perconia

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Peribatodes

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Perizoma

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Petelia

Petilia or Petelia was a city on the coast of on the Italian peninsula, traditionally founded by Philoctetes. During the Second Punic War it remained a Roman ally, while all of the other Bruttian cities had gone over to Hannibal. After a long siege, it was taken by the Carthaginians, its people expelled and replaced by other Bruttians; but following the Roman victory its original population was restored. [more]

Petrophora

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Phaiogramma

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Phanerothyris

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Phibalapteryx

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Philereme

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Photoscotosia

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Phrissogonus

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Phrudocentra

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Phthonosema

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Pigiopsis

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Pingasa

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Pityeja

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Plagodis

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Planociampa

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Plectoneura

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Plemyria

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Plesanemma

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Plesiomorpha

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Pleuroplucha

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Polymixinia

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Polystroma

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Porona

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Prasinocyma

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Prochoerodes

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Proteuchloris

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Protitame

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Protoboarmia

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Psamathia

Samatya (: , pr. Psamatheia) is part of the Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the Marmara Sea, and borders to the west on the neighbourhood of Yedikule (the "Castle of the Seven Towers"). The name originates from the greek word ?aµ????? (pr. Psamathion), meaning "sandy", because of the great quantity of sand found in the neighborhood. [more]

Pseudostegania

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Pseudoterpna

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Psilalcis

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Psodos

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Psychophora

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Pycnostega

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Pylargosceles

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Racheospila

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Racotis

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Rheumaptera

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Rhinoprora

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Rhodochlora

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Rhodostrophia

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Rhopalognophos

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Rhynchobapta

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Rikiosatoa

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Sarracena

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Satoblephara

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Sciadia

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Sciagraphia

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Scopula

Scopula pads (pl. 'scopulae') are tufts of hair at the end of a 's legs and pedipalps. They consist of microscopic hairs, each covered in even smaller hairs called setules. The result is a massive surface area. [more]

Scotopteryx

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Selenia

A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]

Selidosema

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Semaeopus

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Semiaspilates

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Semiothisa

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Sibatania

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Sicyodes

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Somatina

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Spargania

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Sphingomima

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Stamnodes

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Stenoporpia

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Stergamataea

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Synchlora

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Synegia

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Synopsia

Synesthesia (also spelled synæsthesia or synaesthesia, plural synesthesiae or synaesthesiae)—from the Ancient Greek (syn), meaning "with," and (aisthesis), meaning "sensation" — is a neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. In one common form of synesthesia, known as grapheme ? color synesthesia or color-graphemic synesthesia, letters or numbers are perceived as inherently colored, while in ordinal linguistic personification, numbers, days of the week and months of the year evoke personalities. In spatial-sequence, or number form synesthesia, numbers, months of the year, and/or days of the week elicit precise locations in space (for example, 1980 may be "farther away" than 1990), or may have a (three-dimensional) view of a year as a map (clockwise or counterclockwise). Yet another recently identified type, visual motion ? sound synesthesia, involves hearing sounds in response to visual motion and flicker. [more]

Tanaorhinus

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Taxeotis

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Tephrina

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Tephroclystia

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Tephronia

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Thalassodes

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Thallogama

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Thera

Santorini ( Sa?t?????, pronounced ) is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thera (or Thira, Greek T??a ['?ira]), forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km² (28 mi²) and a 2001 census population of 13,670. It is composed of the Municipality of Thíra (pop. 12,440) and the Community of Oía (??a, pop. 1,230, which includes 268 inhabitants resident on the offshore island of Therasia, lying to the west). These have a total land area of 90.623 km², which also includes the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiani (all part of the Municipality of Thira). [more]

Thetidia

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Thinopteryx

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Timandra

Timandra has several senses. [more]

Tricentra

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Trichopteryx

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Triphosa

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Tyloptera

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Typloptera

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Urania

In , Urania (???a??a, pronounced in English), was the muse of astronomy and astrology. She is usually depicted as having a globe in her left hand. She is able to foretell the future by the position of the stars. She is often associated with Universal Love and the Holy Spirit. She is dressed in a cloak embroidered with stars and keeps her eyes and attention focused on the Heavens. Those who are most concerned with philosophy and the heavens are dearest to her. [more]

Victoria

A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]

Xandramea

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Xandrames

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Xanthorhoe

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Xanthyris

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Xenostega

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Xerodes

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Zethenia

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At least 18 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zethenia.

More info about the Genus Zethenia may be found here.

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d Young (2008)

Sources

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Last Revised: November 19, 2008