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Geometridae
Xanthotype urticaria
Xanthotype urticaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
(unranked) Macrolepidoptera
Superfamily: Geometroidea
Family: Geometridae
Leach, 1815
Diversity
about 2,000 genera
26,000 species
Type species
Geometra papilionaria
(large emerald moth)
Subfamilies

Alsophilinae
Archiearinae
Desmobathrinae
Ennominae
Geometrinae
Larentiinae
Oenochrominae
Orthostixinae
Sterrhinae

The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Macrolepidoptera is a group within the Insect order Lepidoptera. Geometroidea is the superfamily of geometrid moths in the Lepidoptera. William Elford Leach FRS ( 2 February 1790 – 26 August 1836) was an English Zoologist and Marine biologist This is a list of the Diversity of the Lepidoptera showing the estimated number of genera and species described for each superfamily and where available family The very large Moth family Geometridae contains the following genera A B C D E F G H In biology a type is that which fixes a name to a Taxon. Depending on the nomenclature code which is applied to the organism in question a type may be a specimen The large emerald is also one of the Twenty Treasures of Zork from the Infocom text adventure Zork I. Ennominae is the largest Subfamily of the Geometer moth family (Geometridae with some 9700 described species in 1100 genera Geometrinae is the nominate Subfamily of the Geometer moth family (Geometridae Larentiinae Moths contain roughly 5700 Species and occur mostly in the Temperate regions of the world In Biological classification, family ( Latin This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. A very large family with around 26,000 species of moths described (over 300 of which occur in the British Isles), it notably includes the peppered moth, Biston betularia. A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan The peppered moth ( Biston betularia) is a temperate species of night-flying Moth.

Contents

Adults

Many Geometrids have slender abdomens and broad wings which are usually held flat with the hindwings visible. In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. 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. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are 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 across but a range of sizes occur. They have distinctive paired tympanal organs at the base of the abdomen (lacking in flightless females). A Tympanal organ is a hearing organ in Insects, consisting of a membrane ( tympanum) stretched across a frame backed by an air sac

Caterpillars

Locomotion of the geometrid caterpillar
Locomotion of the geometrid caterpillar
Filament bearer looper
Filament bearer looper

The name Geometer (earth-measurer) refers to the means of locomotion of the larvae or caterpillars, which lack most of the prolegs of other Lepidopteran caterpillars. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths 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. Eupithecia is a large Genus of Moths of the family Geometridae.

Species

Locomotion
Locomotion

Species include (organized as commonly agreed in 1990):

Archiearinae -- 12 species, Holarctic & south Andes & Tasmania. Larvae have all the prolegs except most are reduced.

Ennominae-- 9700 species, including some pest defoliators; global distribution

Oenochrominae -- includes some genera that are just difficult to place in other groups

Alsophilinae -- one genus, defoliators of trees

Desmobathrinae -- Pantropical

Geometrinae -- Emerald moths, 2300 named species, most tropical

Sterrhinae -- 2800 species, mostly tropical

Larentiinae-- 5700 species, mostly temperate

Pugs are included in Larentiinae:

See also

References

Dictionary

geometer moth

-noun

  1. (zoology) A geometrid moth.
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