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Oriental orange-banded green geometer moth (Eucyclodes gavissim) from Bhutan, spotted by Jatishwor Singh Irungbam
The geometer moths or Geometridae (from Greek geo γη or γαια ‘the earth’ and metron μέτρων 'measure’ — refers to the larvae, or inchworms, which appear to “measure the earth” as they move in a looping fashion) are a family of the order Lepidoptera. A very large family, it has around 35,000 species of moths described, and over 1,400 species from 6 subclasses indigenous to North America.
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 into 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 centimeters (1.2 in) in wingspan, but a range of sizes occur from 10–50 mm (0.39–2.0 in), and a few species (e.g., Dysphania) reach an even larger size. They have distinctive paired tympanal organs at the base of the abdomen that are lacking in flightless females.
Currently nine subfamilies make up Geometridae. As science is an ongoing dynamic process, we are likely to see taxonomic changes as more genetic work tells us about the relationships between these animals. Here is a brief overview of each of the subfamilies:
Alsophilinae (2 genera, 19 species) Distribution: Europe and North America. The females of this sub-family have much reduced wings, so much so that they cannot fly.
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From top: male fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria) spotted by Fyn Kynd; wingless female fall cankerworm moth spotted by Jakubko. Both spotted in the USA.
Archiearinae (8 genera, 13 species) Distribution: Holarctic (the majority of habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world), southern Andes and Tasmania.
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The Infant (Archiearis infans) from the USA, spotted by Fyn Kynd
Desmobathrinae (20 genera, 74 species) Distribution: Pantropical (across all of the tropical regions of the world).
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Eumelea ludovicata from Sri Lanka, spotted by NuwanChathuranga
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Derambila sp. from the Philippines, spotted by Leana Lahom-Cristobal
Ennominae (1,100 genera, 9,700 species) Distribution: Global.
The largest Geometridae subfamily.
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False crocus geometer (Xanthotype urticaria) from the USA, spotted by TomElliott
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Plutodes exquisita from China, spotted by Sinobug
Geometrinae (213 genera, 2,300 species) Distribution: Global.
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Comostola emerald moth (Comostola laesaria) from the Philippines, spotted by AgnesAdiqueTalavera
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White-fringed emerald moth (Nemoria mimosaria) from the USA, spotted by CarolSnowMilne
Larentiinae (303 genera, 5,800 species) Distribution: Global.
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Tawny eupithecia (Eupithecia ravocostaliata) from the USA, spotted by Fyn Kynd
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Orange beggar (Eubaphe unicolor) from Mexico, spotted by JuanCarlosGarciaMorales
Oenochrominae (42 genera, 3,633 species) Distribution: Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia & Australia.
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Triangular geometrid moth (Epidesmia sp.) from Australia, spotted by StephenSolomons
Orthostixinae (2 genera, 32 species) Distribution: Europe & Asia.
Sterrhinae (91 genera,13,955 species) Distribution: Global.
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Sterrhinae sp. from Peru, spotted by Jonathan Guyot
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Ptochophyle dipyramida from Bhutan, spotted by Jatishwor Singh Irungbam
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Sweetfern geometer (Cyclophora pendulinaria) from the USA, spotted by Fyn Kynd
Feeling a bit confused now? Well don’t worry, the point of this blog is to simply show you some of the interesting, amazing and unique animals that belong to this very diverse family.
Fyn Kynd