AI overview
Geometridae is a large family of moths found around the world, characterized by their distinctive wing patterns and the way their caterpillars move by arching their bodies. These moths are important to ecosystems as food sources for birds and other animals, and some species are studied by scientists to monitor environmental health.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumArthropoda
- ClassInsecta
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyGeometridae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Geometroidea
- Image
- Idaea aversata qtl1.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- P105
- family
Article
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 γεω (geo) (derivative form of γῆ or γαῖα "the earth"), and μέτρον (métron) "measure" in reference to the way their larvae, or inchworms, appear to measure the earth as they move along in a looping fashion. Geometridae is a very large family, containing around 23,000 described species; over 1400 species from six subfamilies are indigenous to North America alone. A well-known member is the peppered moth, Biston betularia, which has been the subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are notorious pests.
Caterpillars