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 γεω, and metron μέτρον "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.
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 moths, 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.
Corula is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Corula geometroides, the ash-grey geometrid, is found in Australia. Both the genus and species were first described by Francis Walker in 1856.
Cryphaea is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its single species, Cryphaea xylina, is found in Australia. Both the genus and species were first described by Turner in 1917.
Ecphyas is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Ecphyas holopsara, is found in Australia. Both the genus and species were first described by Turner in 1929.
Gastrina is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Gastrina cristaria, the wave-lined geometrid, is found in the south-eastern quarter of Australia. Both the genus and species were first described by Achille Guenée in 1857.
Homospora is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae described by Turner in 1904. Its only species, Homospora rhodoscopa, was first described by Oswald Bertram Lower in 1902. It is found in Australia.
Melanodes is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Melanodes anthracitaria, the black geometrid, is found in Australia, more specifically in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The genus and species were described by Achille Guenée in 1857.
Oenochroma is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Achille Guenée in 1857.
Scotocyma is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae described by Turner in 1904. All the species in this genus are found in Australia.
Taxeotis is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae described by Edward Guest in 1887. All the species in this genus are found in Australia.
Sterrhinae is a large subfamily of geometer moths with some 3,000 described species, with more than half belonging to the taxonomically difficult, very diverse genera, Idaea and Scopula. This subfamily was described by Edward Meyrick in 1892. They are the most diverse in the tropics with the number of species decreasing with increasing latitude and elevation.
Scopulini is a tribe of the geometer moth family (Geometridae), with about 900 species in seven genera. The tribe was described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.
Louis Beethoven Prout (1864–1943) was an English entomologist and musicologist.
Erastria coloraria, the broad-lined erastria, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, in the superfamily Geometroidea. The species was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798. It is found in North America.
Nemoria rubrifrontaria, the red-fronted emerald, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, in the superfamily Geometroidea. The species was described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1873. It is found in North America.
Caberini is a tribe of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. There are at least 50 described species in Caberini.
Nepytia phantasmaria, the phantom hemlock looper, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It was described by Herman Strecker in 1899 and is found in North America.
Idaea ostentaria, the showy wave, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae.
