Geometridae (Family)

Overview

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, and over 1,200 species indigenous to North America). 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 wi ngs. 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 from 3/8 in. to 2 in. (9.5-51 mm). 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 the prolegs of other Lepidopteran caterpillars in the midd le portion of the body, with only two or three pairs an the end. 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 after their characteristic looping gait. The cabbage looper is not an inchworm, but a caterpillar of a different family. They are about about 2.5 cm or 1 inch in length. They tend to be green, grey, or brownish and hide from predators by fading into the background or resembling twigs. Many inchworms, when disturbed, stand erect and motionless on the prolegs, increasing the resemblance. Some have humps or filaments (see Filament-bearer image). They are seldom hairy or gregarious and are generally smooth. Typically they eat leaves. However, some eat lichen, flowers or pollen. Some, such as the Hawaiian species of the genus Eupithecia, are even carnivorous. Certain destructive inchworms are called cankerworms.

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 to be the most ancient of the geometer moth lineages, as their caterpillars have well-developed 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 ther ein 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 5,800 species, includes the pug moths, mostly temperate. Might be a distinct family.^[1]

Sterrhinae - about 2,800 species, mostly tropical. Might belong to same family as Larentiinae.^[2]

Birch Mocha, Cyclophora albipunctata
False Mocha, Cyclophora porata
Maiden's Blush, Cyclophora punctaria
Riband Wave, Idaea aversata
Small Fan-footed Wave, Idaea biselata
Single-dotted Wave, Idaea dimid iata
Small Scallop, Idaea emarginata
Idaea filicata
Dwarf Cream Wave, Idaea fuscovenosa
Rusty Wave, Idaea inquinata
Purple-bordered Gold, Idaea muricata
Bright Wave, Idaea ochrata
Least Carpet, Idaea rusticata
Small Dusty Wave, Idaea seriata
Purple-barred Yellow, Lythria cruentaria (formerly in Larentiinae)
Vestal, Rhodometra sacraria
Common Pink-barred, Rhodostrophia vibicaria
Middle Lace Border, Scopula decorata
Cream Wave, Scopula floslactata
Small Blood-vein, Scopula imitaria
Lewes Wave, Scopula immorata
Lesser Cream Wave, Scopula immutata
Mullein Wave, Scopula marginepunctata
Zachera Moth, Semiothisa zachera
Blood-vein, Timandra comae
Eastern Blood-vein, Timandra griseata

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^[3]. Larvae have all the prolegs except most are reduced.

The Infant, Archiearis infans (M�schler, 1862)
Scarce Infant, Leucobrephos brephoides (Walker, 1857)

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^[3].

March Moth, Alsophila aescularia
Fall Cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria

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

Geometridae genera incertae sedis include:

Dichromodes
Nearcha

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:

Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
  - Subkingdom: Bilateria (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
    - Branch: Protostomia Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
      - Infrakingdom: Ecdysozoa Aguinaldo Et Al., 1997 Ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - ecdysozoans
        Superphylum: Panarthropoda Cuvier
        Phylum: Arthropoda Latreille, 1829 - Arthropods
        Subphylum: Mandibulata Snodgrass, 1938
        Infraphylum: Atelocerata Heymons, 1901
        Superclass: Panhexapoda
        Class: Insecta C. Linnaeus, 1758 - Insects
        Subclass: Dicondylia
        Infraclass: Pterygota - Winged Insects
        Cohort: Myoglossata
        Superorder: Amphiesmenoptera
        Order: Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758 - Butterflies and Moths
        Infraorder: Heteroneura - a genus of Longhorned Beetles (Cerambycidae)
        Superfamily: Geometroidea
        Family: Geometridae - Geometrid Moths

The Family Geometridae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Subfamily (9): Archiearinae · Ennominae · Euryaloideae · Geometrinae · Larentiinae · Oenochrominae · Polemonioideae · Sterrhinae · Trollioideae
Tribe (2): Delphinieae · Polemonieae
Genus (511): Abraxas · Acasis · Acidalia · Actinoloba · Acypha · Aeolochroma · Aethalura · Agriopis · Alcis · Aleucis · Alsophila · Amoebotricha · Amraica · Anaboarmia · Anacamptodes · Anavitrinelia · Anavitrinella · Angerona · Anisodes · Antepione · Anticlea · Anticollix · Antonechloris · Aperia · Apicia · Aplocera · Apochima · Apodasmia · Apodrepanulatrix · Aporhoptrina · Apostates · Archiearis · Archirhoe · Aria · Arichanna · Ascotis · Asovia · Aspilates · Aspitates · Asthena · Auaxa · Austrocidaria · Authaemon · Auzeodes · Axiagasta · Bapta · Baptria · Bathycolpodes · Besma · Biston · Bizia · Boarmia · Brabira · Brachyglossina · Brephos · Bustilloxia · Cabera · Callisteuma · Callygris · Calospilos · Calothysanis · Campaea · Camptogramma · Carige · Caripeta · Carphoides · Carsia · Casbia · Casilda · Celonoptera · Cepphis · Ceratodalia · Ceratonyx · Chaetolopha · Charissa · Cheimatobia · Chesiadodes · Chesias · Cheteoscelis · Chiasmia · Chloraspilates · Chlorochlamys · Chloroclysta · Chloroclystis · Chlorodrepana · Chloroglyphica · Chloropteryx · Chlorosea · Chondrosoma · Chorodna · Chrysolarentia · Cidaria · Cingilia · Cinglis · Cirrhosoma · Cladara · Cleora · Cochisea · Coenotephria · Colocleora · Colostygia · Comibaena · Comostola · Compsoptera · Corymica · Coryphista · Costaconvexa · Costignophos · Cotta · Crocallis · Cryphaea · Cryptochorina · Ctenognophos · Culcula · Culpinia · Cusiala · Cyclophora · Cymatophora · Cystidia · Dasyfidonia · Dasyternica · Dasyuris · Deilinia · Descoreba · Descoreggba · Diactinia · Dichorda · Dichordophora · Dichromodes · Dicrognophos · Digrammia · Dindica · Dioptrochasma · Diploctena · Diplodesma · Disclisioprocta · Discoglypha · Discoloxia · Drepanogynis · Drepanulatrix · Duliophyle · Dyspteris · Dysstroma · Ecliptopera · Ecpetelia · Ectephrina · Ectropis · Eilicrinia · Elophos · Ematurga · Enanthyperythra · Enantiodes · Enconista · Endropiodes · Ennomos · Entephria · Entogonia · Enypia · Eois · Epelis · Epholca · Epilobophola · Epimecis · Epione · Epiplema · Epirranthis · Epirrhoe · Epirrita · Episemasia · Episteira · Epyaxa · Erannis · Erastria · Euacidalia · Eubaphe · Eucaterva · Euchlaena · Euchloris · Euchoeca · Euchrognophos · Eucosmabraxas · Eucryphodes · Eucyclodes · Eudeilinia · Eudrepanulatrix · Eufidonia · Eugonobapta · Eulithis · Eumacaria · Eumannia · Eumelia · Euphyia · Eupithecia · Eupsamma · Eurhinosea · Eurranthis · Eusarca · Eustroma · Eutrapela · Evecliptopera · Exelis · Fascellina · Fernaldella · Fidonia · Gabriola · Gagitodes · Galenara · Gandaritis · Garaeus · Gelasma · Gellonia · Geodena · Geometra · Georgiana · Glacies · Glaucina · Glena · Glenoides · Glossotrophia · Gnophos · Godonela · Godonella · Gonodontis · Graphidipus · Guara · Gueneria · Haematopis · Hammaptera · Heliomata · Hemimorina · Hemithea · Herbulotina · Hesperumia · Heterarmia · Heterolocha · Heterophleps · Heterostegane · Heterothera · Heterusia · Hethemia · Holochroa · Homochlodes · Horisme · Hulstina · Hydrelia · Hydria · Hydriomena · Hylemera · Hypagyrtis · Hypephyra · Hyperborea · Hyperetis · Hyperythra · Hypochrosis · Hypocoela · Hypomecis · Idaea · Iodis · Iridopsis · Isturgia · Itame · Jankowskia · Jodis · Kemtrognophos · Kuchleria · Laciniodes · Lambdina · Lampropteryx · Lamproteryx · Larentia · Lassaba · Leptostales · Lidosoma · Limeria · Lissocraspeda · Lithostege · Lobocleta · Lobophora · Lomographa · Lophorrhachia · Lophosis · Luxiaria · Lychnosea · Lycia · Lygris · Lytrosis · Macaria · Martania · Matilda · Mauna · Maxates · Megalycinia · Megaspilates · Melanchroia · Melanolophia · Melanthia · Melemaea · Melinodes · Mellilla · Menophra · Merochlora · Mesoleuca · Mesothea · Mesotype · Metallospora · Metanema · Metarranthis · Metrocampa · Metron · Microcalcarifera · Microdes · Microgonia · Microloxia · Microlygris · Mimaplasta · Monoctenia · Myinodes · Myrteta · Nacophora · Narraga · Naxa · Nematocampa · Nemoria · Neoalcis · Neognopharmia · Neognophina · Neostega · Neoterpes · Neothysanis · Nepheloleuca · Nepterotaea · Nepytia · Ninodes · Notoreas · Nychiodes · Nyctidroma · Obeidia · Ochrognesia · Odontognophos · Oenoptila · Oncopus · Onychodes · Operophtera · Oporinia · Oreta · Orillia · Ortaliella · Orthocabera · Orthofidonia · Ortholitha · Orthonama · Orthonoma · Ourapteryx · Oxydia · Oxyfidonia · Oxymacaria · Ozola · Pachyodes · Paleacrita · Palyas · Panulia · Parabapta · Paraboarmia · Paradarisa · Parapheromia · Pareclipsis · Parectropis · Pareulype · Pasiphila · Patalene · Pennithera · Peratophyga · Peratostega · Percnia · Perconia · Peribatodes · Perizoma · Pero · Petelia · Petrophora · Phaeoura · Phaiogramma · Phanerothyris · Pherne · Phibalapteryx · Phigalia · Philedia · Philereme · Philtraea · Photoscotosia · Phrissogonus · Phrudocentra · Phrygionis · Phthonosema · Pigiopsis · Pimaphera · Pingasa · Pityeja · Plagodis · Planociampa · Plataea · Plectoneura · Plemyria · Plesanemma · Plesiomorpha · Pleuroplucha · Pleuroprucha · Polymixinia · Polystroma · Porona · Prasinocyma · Probole · Prochoerodes · Prorella · Proteuchloris · Protitame · Protoboarmia · Protoproutia · Psamathia · Psamatodes · Pseudostegania · Pseudoterpna · Psilalcis · Psodos · Psychophora · Pterospoda · Pterotaea · Purpuraria · Pycnostega · Pylargosceles · Racheospila · Racotis · Rheumaptera · Rhinoprora · Rhodochlora · Rhodostrophia · Rhopalognophos · Rhynchobapta · Rikiosatoa · Sabulodes · Sarracena · Satoblephara · Sciadia · Sciagraphia · Scopula · Scotopteryx · Selenia · Selidosema · Semaeopus · Semiaspilates · Semiothisa · Sericosema · Sibatania · Sicya · Sicyodes · Similaria · Somatina · Somatolophia · Spargania · Speranza · Sphacelodes · Sphingomima · Spodolepis · Stamnodes · Stenoporpia · Synaxis · Synchlora · Synegia · Synopsia · Tacparia · Taeniogramma · Tanaorhinus · Taxeotis · Tephrina · Tephroclystia · Tephronia · Tetracis · Thalassodes · Thallogama · Thallophaga · Thera · Thetidia · Thinopteryx · Thysanopyga · Timandra · Titea · Tornos · Tracheops · Tricentra · Trichodezia · Trichopteryx · Trigrammia · Triphosa · Tyloptera · Typloptera · Urania · Venusia · Victoria · Vinemina · Xandramea · Xandrames · Xanthorhoe · Xanthorrhoe · Xanthotype · Xanthyris · Xenostega · Xerochlora · Xerodes · Xylina · Zenophleps · Zethenia
Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 16,480 species and subspecies in the Family Geometridae.

Genera

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Abraxas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[1] [more]

Geometridae

Overview

Adults

Caterpillars

Systematics

Photos

Taxonomy

Genera

Abraxas

Acasis

Acidalia

Actinoloba

Acypha

Aeolochroma

Aethalura

Agriopis

Alcis

Aleucis

Alsophila

Amoebotricha

Amraica

Anaboarmia

Anacamptodes

Anavitrinelia

Anavitrinella

Angerona

Anisodes

Antepione

Anticlea

Anticollix

Antonechloris

Aperia

Apicia

Aplocera

Apochima

Apodasmia

Apodrepanulatrix

Aporhoptrina

Apostates

Archiearis

Archirhoe

Aria

Arichanna

Ascotis

Asovia

Aspilates

Aspitates

Asthena

Auaxa

Austrocidaria

Authaemon

Auzeodes

Axiagasta

Bapta

Baptria

Bathycolpodes

Besma

Biston

Bizia

Boarmia

Brabira

Brachyglossina

Brephos

Bustilloxia

Cabera

Callisteuma

Callygris

Calospilos

Calothysanis

Campaea

Camptogramma

Carige

Caripeta

Carphoides

Carsia

Casbia

Casilda

Celonoptera

Cepphis

Ceratodalia