geometer moths
(Family Geometridae)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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| Geometer Moths (Family Geometridae) is a very large family of inchworm moths. There are about 35,000 species worldwide, more than 1,400 species in North America north of Mexico. At least 172 species have been reported in Minnesota. They occur almost everywhere and on every continent, including Antarctica. Many are significant pests of orchard and shade trees. Most adults are active at night and will come to lights. The larvae move by extending the front of the body forward then bringing the rear of the body up to meet the front, thus creating a “loop”. This is the source of several of the the common names given to the family. | |||||||||
Description |
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Geometer moths are small to medium-sized and usually have a slender body. On the forewing, the cubitus (Cu) vein appears to have 3 branches. The subcosta (Sc) vein, the first vein behind the leading margin, and the radius (R) vein are parallel and either close together or fused together along the side of the discal cell. On the hindwing, the Sc vein is abruptly angled downward at the base. The antennae may be dilated at the tip or not. If they are, then the eyes are bare, not covered with hairs. The larvae have only 2 or 3 pairs of false legs (prolegs). These are at the rear end of the body and is the reason for the distinctive mode of travel. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 12/30/2019 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) | ||
Superfamily |
Geometroidea (geometrid and swallowtail moths) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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blackberry looper (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria) chickweed geometer (Haematopis grataria) common eupithecia (Eupithecia miserulata) geometer moth (Xanthotype spp.) simple wave (Scopula junctaria) stout spanworm moth (Lycia ursaria) white slant-line (Tetracis cachexiata) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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cankerworms (larvae) geometer moths (adults) geometers (larvae) inchworms (larvae) loopers (larvae) measuringworms (larvae) spanworms (larvae) |
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Glossary
Proleg
A fleshy structure on the abdomen of some insect larvae that functions as a leg, but lacks the five segments of a true insect leg.
Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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_01.jpg "geometer moth (Family Geometridae)") |
_03.jpg "geometer moth (Family Geometridae)") |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Geometridae Andree Reno Sanborn |
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About
There are over 1,400 species of geometer moths in North America. |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Spanworm Caterpillar of Geometridae Patrick Wermelinger |
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About
Sep 16, 2010 The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera. A very large family, it has around 26,000 species of moths described, filmed with JVC HM-100 music by Roger Subirana Mata - Hope for Rebirth from www.jamendo.com |
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| Inchworm: Geometridae caterpillar The Insect Diary |
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About
Aug 13, 2016 |
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| Geometrid Moth Caterpillar (Geometridae) Carl Barrentine |
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About
Jun 8, 2011 To be identified. Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (08 June 2011). |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Alfredo Colon Summer 2018 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 12/30/2019
Last Updated: