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 γῆ or γαῖα "the earth", 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.
The cabbage moth is primarily known as a pest that is responsible for severe crop damage of a wide variety of plant species. The common name, cabbage moth, is a misnomer as the species feeds on many fruits, vegetables, and crops in the genus Brassica. Other notable host plants include tobacco, sunflower, and tomato, making this pest species particularly economically damaging.
The cream wave is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1809. It is found in forest and woodland regions, feeding on grasses and small plants such as dandelion.
The Bistonini are a tribe of geometer moths in subfamily Ennominae. As numerous ennomine genera have not yet been assigned to a tribe, the genus list is preliminary. In addition, the entire tribe is sometimes merged into a much-expanded Boarmiini. In other treatments, the Erannini are included in the present group.
The nine-spotted moth or yellow belted burnet is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Platyprepia is a monotypic tiger moth genus in the family Erebidae erected by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1897. Its only species, Platyprepia virginalis, or Ranchman's tiger moth, was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1852. It is found in western North America, ranging from southern Monterrey Bay in California across Nevada and southern Utah to Colorado and north to southern British Columbia. The habitat consists of wet lowland prairies, wet meadows, wet forests and in riparian zones along creeks in dry desert regions.
Coryphista is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae erected by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. The genus may be considered to be a synonym of Rheumaptera. Its only species, Coryphista meadii, the barberry geometer moth or barberry looper, was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1874. It is found in the United States and southern Canada.
Paleacrita is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae first described by Riley in 1876.
Pseudohermonassa bicarnea, the pink-spotted dart, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in eastern North America, and as far west as south-central Saskatchewan and central North Dakota, south to western North Carolina. It has recently been recorded from Tennessee.
Eutricopis nexilis, the white-spotted midget, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Herbert Knowles Morrison in 1875. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia and New England west across southern Canada to southern Vancouver Island, north to Yukon and south in the mountains to California and Colorado.
Redectis vitrea, the scalloped snout or white-spotted redectis, is a litter moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. It is found in the United States from Illinois to south-eastern Massachusetts, south to Texas and Florida.
Spargaloma is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae. Its only species is Spargaloma sexpunctata, the six-spotted gray. Both the genus and species were first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found from coast to coast in lower Canada south in the east to Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, in the west to California.
Paleacrita vernata, the spring cankerworm, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by William Dandridge Peck in 1795. It is found in North America from the Atlantic Ocean west to Alberta, Texas and California.
Schizura ipomoeae, the morning-glory prominent moth or false unicorn caterpillar, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. The species was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1841. It is found in the United States and southern Canada.
Pheosia rimosa, the black-rimmed prominent moth, fissured prominent or false-sphinx, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. It is found from coast to coast in North America, although it is less common in the south-eastern United States.
Schizura unicornis, the unicorn caterpillar moth, unicorn prominent or variegated prominent, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. It is found in all of North America, except the arctic north.
Prorella irremorata is a moth in the family Geometridae first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1923. It is found in the United States in the desert regions of southern California, Nevada and Arizona.
Eudonia leucophthalma is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1929. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from British Columbia and Alberta to Washington and California.
Afrida ydatodes, or Dyar's lichen moth, is a species of moth in the family Nolidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913 and is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.
Lacosoma arizonicum, the southwestern sack-bearer moth, is a species of moth in the family Mimallonidae and one of four species of sack-bearers occurring north of Mexico. Its type locality is the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
