Geometrinae is the nominate
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
of the
geometer moth family (Geometridae). It is strongly
split, containing a considerable number of
tribes of which most are presently very small or
monotypic. These small moths are often a light bluish green, leading to the common name of emerald moths, though a few species called thus are also found in the tribe
Campaeini of the
Ennominae. In 2018, a phylogeny and classification based on a
molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
analysis was published in the ''
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society'' in which 13 tribes were accepted.
There are about 2,300 described
species, mostly from the
tropics.
Selected genera and species
*
Blotched emerald, ''Comibaena bajularia''
* ''
Dysphania'': the genus of 'false tiger moths' of Asia
*
Large emerald
The large emerald (''Geometra papilionaria'') is a moth which is the type species for the family Geometridae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East in and around deciduous forests, heathlands, marshland and in settlements ...
, ''Geometra papilionaria''
*
Essex emerald, ''Thetidia smaragdaria''
Genera ''incertae sedis''
Some geometrine
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
have not been definitely assigned to a
tribe.
[See references in Savela (2007)] These include:
* ''
Bathycolpodes''
* ''
Bustilloxia''
* ''
Chlorodontopera''
* ''
Eucrostes''
* ''
Kuchleria
''Kuchleria'' is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae
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 '' ...
''
* ''
Prosomphax''
* ''
Xenochlorodes''
* ''
Xenozancla''
Footnotes
References
*
External links
Moth subfamilies
{{Geometrinae-stub