GEOMETRID MOTH

any member of the large, cosmopolitan moth family Geometridae (order Lepidoptera), which includes the species commonly known as pug, wave, emerald, and carpet moths. The larvae of geometrid moths are called by a variety of common namesinchworm, cankerworm, looper, and measuring wormand the moths themselves are sometimes called measuring worm moths. Adult geometrids have slender bodies and broad wings. Many species resemble dried, dead leaves, but there are some brightly coloured types, especially in the tropics. When preparing to land they tend to select a background coloration into which they blend. The distinctive coloration patterns of certain species warn predators of their foul taste. Some species have wingless females (e.g., the European winter moth Operophtera brumata). Research using the currant or magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata) led to the discovery of sex-linked characters (i.e., genetic characters determined by genes on the sex chromosomes). Dark forms of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) are used in studying industrial melanism.