Geometridae
Guides
Nemoria catachloa
Florida Emerald
Nemoria catachloa, known as the Florida Emerald, is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. It was originally described as Aplodes catachloa by Hulst in 1898. The species is found in North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 7031.
Nemoria darwiniata
Columbian Emerald
Nemoria darwiniata, known as the Columbian Emerald, is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. First described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904, it is distributed across North America. The species belongs to a genus of small, often brightly green-colored moths commonly called emerald moths.
Nemoria diamesa
Nemoria diamesa is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, described by Douglas C. Ferguson in 1969. It belongs to the subfamily Geometrinae, a group commonly known as emerald moths due to their characteristic green coloration. The genus Nemoria is diverse in North America, with species typically associated with woody vegetation. Specific ecological details for N. diamesa remain poorly documented in published literature.
Nemoria extremaria
Extreme Emerald
Nemoria extremaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as the Extreme Emerald. It is native to North America. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1861 under the basionym Racheospila extremaria.
Nemoria intensaria
Nemoria intensaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. It was described by Pearsall in 1911 and is found in North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 7043. As a member of the emerald moth group, it belongs to a genus characterized by green coloration.
Nemoria latirosaria
Nemoria latirosaria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Pearsall in 1906. It belongs to a genus characterized by bright green coloration. The species is found in North America and is assigned Hodges number 7019.
Nemoria leptalea
Pink-margined Green
Nemoria leptalea is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as the Pink-margined Green. It was described by Ferguson in 1969. The species is recognized by its distinctive green coloration with pink marginal markings on the wings. It is recorded from both Central America and North America.
Nemoria mimosaria
White-fringed Emerald, Flanged Looper
Nemoria mimosaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, known by the common names white-fringed emerald and flanged looper. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1858. It occurs across much of eastern and central North America, with larvae feeding on a diverse range of woody plants including both deciduous and coniferous trees. Adults are active in early summer and are recognized by their distinctive green coloration with white fringes on the wings.
Nemoria obliqua
emerald moth
Nemoria obliqua is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Hulst in 1898. It is native to Central America and North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 7037. Two subspecies are recognized: N. o. hennei and the nominate N. o. obliqua.
Nemoria rindgei
Nemoria rindgei is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Douglas C. Ferguson in 1969. It belongs to the genus Nemoria, a group of small green moths commonly known as emerald moths due to their distinctive coloration. The species is recorded from North America and is assigned Hodges number 7050 in the North American moth numbering system. Available records for this species remain limited.
Nemoria strigataria
Nemoria strigataria is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, native to North America. It belongs to a genus known for bright green coloration in adults. The species was described by Grossbeck in 1910. Very little specific information has been documented about its biology and ecology.
Nemoria tuscarora
Tuscarora Emerald
Nemoria tuscarora is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, described by Ferguson in 1969. As a member of the genus Nemoria, it exhibits the characteristic bright green coloration typical of this group. The species is found in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Nemoria unitaria
Single-lined Emerald
Nemoria unitaria, commonly known as the Single-lined Emerald, is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Packard in 1873.
Nemoria zelotes
emerald moth
Nemoria zelotes is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Ferguson in 1969. It belongs to a genus of small, often brightly colored moths commonly known as emerald moths due to their green coloration. The species is found in North America and is assigned Hodges number 7036 in the North American moth numbering system.
Nemoriini
Nemoriini is a tribe of geometer moths within the subfamily Geometrinae, characterized by distinctive genital morphology and wing pattern variation. The tribe exhibits two primary morphological lineages: the Nemoria lineage and the Phrudocentra lineage, which differ in uncus shape and wing marking patterns. Though relatively small in absolute diversity, Nemoriini represents one of the larger tribes within Geometrinae. The tribe includes genera such as Nemoria, Phrudocentra, Chlorosea, Dichorda, and Ochrognesia.
Neoterpes
Neoterpes is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, established by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. The genus contains four described species native to North America. These moths belong to the subfamily Ennominae, a diverse group of geometrid moths commonly known as inchworms or loopers due to their characteristic larval locomotion. The genus has been documented in entomological collections and observation platforms, with over 2,000 records attributed to it.
Nepheloleuca
Nepheloleuca is a genus of geometrid moths erected by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1883. The genus comprises twelve species characterized by similar wing patterns with variations in ground color and minor marking differences. Species are distributed across the Caribbean islands of Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica, as well as mainland South America.
Nepheloleuca floridata
Nepheloleuca floridata is a species of geometrid moth described by Grote in 1883. It belongs to the subfamily Ennominae within the family Geometridae. The species has been recorded from limited localities in the southeastern United States and Mexico, suggesting a restricted distribution in subtropical regions of North America.
Nepterotaea
Nepterotaea is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Ennominae, established by McDunnough in 1920. The genus contains at least two recognized species: N. diagonalis and N. furva. As geometrid moths, members are likely characterized by slender bodies and broad wings typical of the family. The genus appears to be relatively poorly documented in scientific literature.
Nepterotaea furva
Nepterotaea furva is a species of geometrid moth described by Rindge in 1973. It is a member of the subfamily Ennominae, a diverse group of inchworm moths. The species is known from North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 6526. Published information on its biology remains limited.
Nepytia canosaria
False Hemlock Looper Moth, false hemlock looper
Nepytia canosaria is a North American geometrid moth commonly known as the false hemlock looper. The species occurs across a broad transcontinental range from northeastern Alberta to the Atlantic provinces, extending south through New England. Adults are active in late summer, with flight records from August through September. The larval stage feeds primarily on conifers including balsam fir, eastern hemlock, and various spruce species.
Nepytia freemani
Western False Hemlock Looper
Nepytia freemani is a geometrid moth known as the western false hemlock looper, described by Eugene G. Munroe in 1963. The species has a one-year life cycle, overwintering as eggs with larvae emerging in mid-May, feeding through summer, and pupating in late July. Adults appear in August and September. The species has been documented reaching outbreak proportions, with a notable outbreak occurring in north central Utah from 1965 to 1967.
Nepytia janetae
Nepytia janetae is a geometrid moth species that has transitioned from an innocuous, poorly studied insect to a significant forest pest in the southwestern United States. Since 1996, four major outbreaks have caused extensive defoliation and mortality of conifer trees across tens of thousands of acres in Arizona and New Mexico mountain ranges. The species exhibits an unusual life history as a univoltine, autumn- and winter-feeding looper at high elevations where temperatures regularly approach or fall below 0°F. Outbreaks appear associated with reduced snowpack, though the precise climatic mechanisms remain unclear.
Nepytia janetae
Janeta's looper moth
Nepytia janetae is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae native to southwestern United States mountain ranges. Prior to 1996, it was an inconspicuous species with little ecological impact. Since 1996, four major outbreaks have caused extensive defoliation of conifer forests across Arizona and New Mexico, killing tens of thousands of acres of trees. The species exhibits an unusual winter-feeding larval stage, active when minimum temperatures approach or drop below 0°F. Outbreak termination occurs primarily through parasitism, viral infection, larval starvation, and occasionally heavy rain during egg deposition.
Nepytia pellucidaria
false pine looper, Boreal Pine Looper Moth
Nepytia pellucidaria is a geometrid moth commonly known as the false pine looper. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1873. It occurs in northeastern North America, where its larvae feed on hard pines including pitch pine and red pine. The species has a wingspan of approximately 34–39 mm.
Nepytia regulata
Nepytia regulata is a geometrid moth species in the family Geometridae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1916. It is part of the Nepytia genus, which includes several conifer-feeding looper moths found in North America. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature and has minimal observational records.
Numia
Numia is a strictly Neotropical genus of geometer moths (Geometridae: Ennominae). The genus contains at least one well-documented species, N. terebintharia Guenée, which has been recorded from the Caribbean, Florida, Costa Rica, and northeastern Brazil. Caterpillars are inchworm-type with two pairs of false abdominal legs and feed externally on leaves of Ziziphus species (Rhamnaceae). Adults are small moths with wingspans around 2.5 cm; females possess a large variable apical spot on the forewings, while males have bipectinate antennae and females have filiform antennae.
Numia terebintharia
A Neotropical geometrid moth in the subfamily Ennominae, first recorded in Brazil from the Caatinga region in 2021. Adults are small green moths with approximately 2.5 cm wingspan; females possess an apical spot on the forewings. The species was previously known from the Caribbean, Florida (USA), Haiti, and Costa Rica. Caterpillars are external leaf-feeders that can cause extensive defoliation of host plants.
Odontoptila obrimo
Orbed Wave
Odontoptila obrimo, known as the Orbed Wave, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Odontoptila. This geometrid moth is found from the southern United States through Central America. It belongs to the subfamily Sterrhinae, a group commonly referred to as waves due to their characteristic wing patterns.
Operophtera
winter moths
Operophtera is a genus of geometrid moths comprising approximately four recognized species, including the economically significant winter moth (O. brumata) and Bruce spanworm (O. bruceata). The genus is notable for its unusual winter-active adult phenology, with adults emerging and mating during cold months when most other Lepidoptera are dormant. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, with O. brumata established as an invasive defoliator in North America. The genus has become a model system for studying hybrid zone dynamics, as O. brumata and O. bruceata form a documented clinal hybrid zone in the northeastern United States.
Operophtera occidentalis
Western Bruce Spanworm
Operophtera occidentalis, commonly known as the Western Bruce Spanworm, is a moth species in the family Geometridae. It is native to western North America. The species is closely related to the Bruce spanworm (Operophtera bruceata), with which it shares similar ecological traits and appearance. Adults are active in late autumn, with males possessing fully developed wings while females are wingless.
Orthonama obstipata
Gem, Gem Moth
Orthonama obstipata, known as the Gem, is a cosmopolitan moth in the family Geometridae. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in wing coloration and pattern. It is noted for its vagrant behavior and ability to cross open water, leading to regular though irregular occurrences on islands including the British Isles and Iceland.
Oxydia
Oxydia is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. Species in this genus are distributed across the Americas, with several species recognized as forest pests of economic importance. The genus includes defoliator species that attack conifers, eucalyptus, and other woody plants. Larvae are commonly known as loopers or measuring worms due to their characteristic looping gait.
Parapheromia
Parapheromia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1920. The genus contains five described species: P. cassinoi, P. falsata, P. configurata, P. lichenaria, and P. ficta. It is classified within the subfamily Ennominae, a diverse group of geometrid moths often associated with woody vegetation.
Parexcelsa
Parexcelsa is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, established by Pearsall in 1912. It is classified within the subfamily Ennominae, one of the largest subfamilies of geometer moths. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited information available regarding its constituent species, distribution, and biology. Most knowledge of this genus derives from taxonomic databases rather than primary research.
Pero meskaria
Meske's Pero Moth
Pero meskaria is a geometrid moth species described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1876. It is native to western North America, with records spanning from southern Texas west to California and east through Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado. The species belongs to the genus Pero, a group of moths commonly known as 'pero moths' within the family Geometridae.
Pero modestus
Pero modestus is a species of geometrid moth described by Grossbeck in 1910. It belongs to the family Geometridae, a large group of moths commonly known as inchworms or loopers due to their characteristic larval locomotion. The species occurs in North America.
Pero occidentalis
Western Pero Moth, western pero
Pero occidentalis, commonly known as the western pero moth, is a species of geometrid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It belongs to the family Geometridae, a large group commonly called inchworms or geometer moths due to their characteristic larval locomotion. The species is native to North America and is cataloged with MONA/Hodges number 6761. Like other members of genus Pero, it is part of the diverse Ennominae subfamily.
Pero pima
Pero pima is a species of geometrid moth described by Poole in 1987. It belongs to the family Geometridae, a large and diverse group commonly known as geometer moths or inchworms. The species is recorded from North America. It has been assigned MONA (Moths of North America) or Hodges number 6762.1.
Pero radiosaria
Pero radiosaria is a geometrid moth species described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. It occurs in southwestern North America, ranging from southern California to Texas. Adults have a wingspan of 28–36 mm and have been recorded on wing year-round. The larvae feed specifically on Clematis drummondii.
Pero washakiensis
Pero washakiensis is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae, described by Ferris in 2003. It belongs to the genus Pero, a diverse group of moths commonly known as peros or geometrids. The species epithet 'washakiensis' suggests a geographic association, likely referring to the Washakie area or region. As a member of the subfamily Ennominae, it shares characteristics with other inchworm moths that have reduced wing venation and larvae with reduced prolegs.
Phaeoura
Phaeoura is a genus of geometrid moths in the subfamily Ennominae. The genus includes several species, notably Phaeoura mexicanaria (pine looper) and Phaeoura quernaria (oak beauty), whose common names reflect larval host associations. Larvae of at least some species are known to feed on conifers or hardwood trees. The genus occurs in North America.
Phaeoura cana
Phaeoura cana is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae, described by Rindge in 1961. It belongs to a genus of moths commonly known as pine loopers. The species is recorded from North America. Beyond basic taxonomic placement and geographic presence, detailed biological information remains undocumented in the available literature.
Phaeoura perfidaria
Phaeoura perfidaria is a moth species in the family Geometridae, first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1917. It is a medium-sized geometrid with a wingspan of 40–47 mm. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States.
Phaeoura quernaria
oak beauty, American Oak Beauty
Phaeoura quernaria, commonly known as the oak beauty or American Oak Beauty, is a geometrid moth native to eastern North America. The species is notable for its salt-and-pepper patterned wings that provide effective bark camouflage. It exhibits bivoltine or univoltine life cycles depending on latitude, with adults active from late winter through autumn. Larvae feed on various hardwood trees and the species overwinters as pupae.
Phaeoura utahensis
Phaeoura utahensis is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae, subfamily Ennominae. First described by Cassino and Swett in 1923, this species is known from North America. The genus Phaeoura comprises relatively understudied moths, with limited published information on their biology and ecology. As with many geometrid moths, adults are likely nocturnal and possess the characteristic slender bodies and broad wings typical of the family.
Phigalia
Phigalia is a genus of geometer moths in the family Geometridae, established by Duponchel in 1829. Species in this genus are primarily North American and European, with several exhibiting distinctive life history traits including winter-emerging adults and, in some species, wingless females. The genus includes notable species such as the Spring Cankerworm (P. titea) and the Small Phigalia (P. strigataria), both of which are early-season defoliators of deciduous trees.
Phigalia plumogeraria
Walnut Spanworm Moth
Phigalia plumogeraria, the walnut spanworm moth, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 6661. It belongs to the genus Phigalia, which includes other early spring-emerging geometer moths with similar life histories.
Phigalia titea
Half-wing Moth, Spiny Looper
Phigalia titea, commonly known as the Half-wing Moth or Spiny Looper, is a geometrid moth native to eastern North America. Adult males have fully developed wings with an average wingspan of approximately 34 mm, while females are wingless (apterous). The species is notable for its exceptionally early adult activity period in late winter and early spring, making it one of the first moths to appear each year. Larvae are polyphagous loopers (inchworms) that feed on a wide variety of deciduous hardwood trees and can cause significant defoliation during outbreak years.
Philtraea utahensis
Philtraea utahensis is a species of geometrid moth described by Buckett in 1971. It belongs to the family Geometridae, a large and diverse group commonly known as inchworm or geometer moths. The species is known from North America and has been assigned MONA (Moth Photographers Group) or Hodges number 6846. Very little detailed biological information has been published for this species.