|
| |
- This page contains pictures and information about Moths and
Caterpillars in family
Geometridae that we found in the Brisbane
area, Queensland, Australia.
-
 - Looper Caterpillar
-
- Most of the Caterpillars in family
Geometridae have
one or two pair of prolegs. The caterpillars move with curving their bodies into
loops. This is why they commonly called Loopers. They are also known as Inch
Worms because they apparently measuring off one inch at a time as they move.
Some of them are called Twig Caterpillars because their resting posture
look like a twig.
-
 
 - Caterpillar
moving
Camouflage as twig
-
- The
Geometridae caterpillars
are usually hairless and with slender body. They are well
camouflaged in green or brown in colour. Most of them feed on leaf and active
during the day.
- Most of them are easy to rear. The GEOMETRIDAE usually
pupate in plant materials or in soil with a flimsy cocoon.
-
  - Moth, wingspan
50mm
Wingspan
15mm
Pupa
-
- Adult moths are medium to large size. Most of the them have camouflaged wing patterns. These patterns are usually wavy
lines extend across both fore and hind wings. These moths rest with a standard
posture, holding wings outspread and tightly pressed against the surface
on which they are sitting, with the antenna held under forewing. This eliminates the shadow as well as the wings
outline for a better camouflaged posture. Most
Geometridae moths are active at
night. They are not the strong fliers.
-
- Eggs
are nearly always of the flat type, although some are upright. They may be
lay singly, in pair or in groups.
-
-
Geometridae is
a large family. We found many of them in Brisbane and listed as follow.
 Subfamily
Ennominae - Twig Caterpillars
- ENNOMINAE - Most Caterpillars in
this subfamily are resemblance to dead twigs or other parts of their food
plants. The adult moths are active at night. Most of them are grey or dark
brown in colours.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 Subfamily
Oenochrominae
- OENOCHROMINAE - For the
adults in this subfamily, there are the stout-bodied group and the
slender-bodied group.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 Subfamily
Geometrinae - Emeralds
- GEOMETRINAE - The mature caterpillars in this subfamily only have one pair of ventral prolegs. They can move only in the looper fashion. Adults fly weakly at night. Some are green in colour hence the common name Emeralds.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 Subfamily
Sterrhinae
- STERRHINAE - Moths in this subfamily are medium to small in size. They usually pink or
yellow in colour.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Reference:
- 1. Moths
of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press,
1990, p359.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus
& Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p424.
- 3. A
Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO
PUBLISHING, 2007, p137.
[ Up ] [ ENNOMINAE ] [ OENOCHROMINAE ] [ GEOMETRINAE ] [ STERRHINAE ] [ Unknown Loopers ]
Back to Top
| |
|
