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 23,000 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.
The Macariini are a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. Though they share many traits with the Sterrhinae, this is probably plesiomorphic rather than indicative of a close relationship, and DNA sequence data points to the Boarmiini as particularly close relatives of the Macariini. All things considered, this tribe might still resemble the very first Ennominae more than any other living lineage in the subfamily.
Ennominae is the largest subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae) with some 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. They are usually a fairly small moth species, though some grow to be considerably large. This subfamily has a global distribution. It includes some species that are notorious defoliating pests. The subfamily was first described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.
The Abraxini are a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. Here, the Cassymini are considered a specialized offshoot of the Abraxini and merged therein; some authors consider them a distinct tribe however.
Larentiinae is a subfamily of moths containing roughly 5,800 species that occur mostly in the temperate regions of the world. They are generally considered a subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae) and divided into a few large or good-sized tribes, and numerous very small or even monotypic ones which might not always be valid. Well-known members are the "pug moths" of the Eupitheciini and the "carpets", mainly of the Cidariini and Xanthorhoini.
The brindled beauty is a Palearctic moth belonging to the family Geometridae.
Heterostegane is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae described by George Hampson in 1893.
Sterrhinae is a large subfamily of geometer moths with some 2,800 described species.
Scopula ornata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Europe, North Africa and the Near East.
Heterostegane warreni is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra.
Pasiphila debiliata, the bilberry pug, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found from Europe, east to southern Siberia, the Amur region and Japan.
Asthenini is a tribe of geometer moths under subfamily Larentiinae first described by Warren in 1893. The tribe has been combined with Eupitheciini in the past, most notably by Jeremy Daniel Holloway in his work The Moths of Borneo.
Louis Beethoven Prout (1864–1943) was an English entomologist and musicologist.
Scopula cajanderi is a moth of the family Geometridae. It has a Holarctic, distribution, which includes Russia, Alaska and Yukon.
William Warren was an English entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera.
Heterostegane ruberata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Madagascar.
Heterostegane aurantiaca is a moth of the family Geometridae first described by Warren in 1894. It is found in the Khasi Hills of India and probably in Sri Lanka.
Heterostegane rectifascia is a moth of the family Geometridae first described by George Hampson in 1892. It is found in Sri Lanka.
