Geometer moth

"Inchworm" redirects here. For other uses, see Inchworm (disambiguation).

Geometer moth Temporal range: Priabonian to Recent 35–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Chiasma species from Ennominae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
(unranked):	Macrolepidoptera
Superfamily:	Geometroidea
Family:	Geometridae Leach, 1815
Subfamilies
Alsophilinae (disputed) Archiearinae Desmobathrinae (disputed) Ennominae Geometrinae Larentiinae (but see text) Oenochrominae Orthostixinae Sterrhinae

Selenia tetralunaria species from Ennominae

Scopula sp.

Tetracis cachexiata (Ohio)

The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek geo γη or γαια 'the earth' and metron μέτρων 'measure' in reference to the way their larvae, or inchworms, appear to "measure the earth" as they move along in a looping fashion. A very large family, it has around 35,000 species of moths described, and over 1400 species from six subfamilies indigenous to North America alone. 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 notorious pests.

Adults

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 centimetres (1.2 in) in wingspan, but a range of sizes occur from 10–50 mm (0.39–1.97 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 (lacking in flightless females).

Caterpillars

A Geometridae caterpillar camouflaged as a broken twig

Caterpillar locomotion

The name "Geometridae" ultimately derives from Latin geometra from Greek γεωμέτρης ("geometer, earth-measurer"). This refers to the means of locomotion of the larvae or caterpillars, which lack the full complement of prolegs seen in other Lepidopteran caterpillars, with only two or three pairs at the posterior end instead of the usual five pairs. 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 and soybean looper are not an inchworm, but a caterpillar of a different family. In many species of geometer moths, the inchworms are about 25 mm (1.0 in) long. 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. They are 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

The placement of the example species follows a 1990 systematic treatment; 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 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.

Larentiinae – about 5,800 species, includes the pug moths, mostly temperate. Might be a distinct family.

Sterrhinae – about 2,800 species, mostly tropical. Might belong to same family as Larentiinae.

• 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 dimidiata
• 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 species; Holarctic, southern Andes and Tasmania, though the latter some seem to belong to the Ennominae. Larvae have all the prolegs except most are reduced.

• Infant, Archiearis infans (Möschler, 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.

• 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

Hydriomena? protrita holotype fore-wing

Fossil Geometridae taxa include:

• †Hydriomena? protrita Cockerell, 1922 (Priabonian, Florissant Formation, Colorado)

In popular culture

The popular children's song "Inchworm" is sung by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen.

Further reading

• Hausmann, A. (2001): The geometrid moths of Europe. Apollo Books.
• Minet, J. & Scoble, M. J. (1999): The Drepanoid / Geometroid Assemblage. In: N. P. Kristensen (ed.): Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom (Vol. 4: Arthropoda: Insecta. Part 35: Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies vol. 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography): Chapter 17. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin & New York.
• Scoble, M. J. (ed.) (1999): Geometrid Moths of the World: A Catalogue. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-06304-8

External links

• Family Geometridae at Lepidoptera.pro
• Anacamptodes pergracilis, cypress looper on the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Featured Creatures website
• Geometridae species in New Zealand
• Geometridae species in Portugal
• European Geometridae