Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Emeralds (Geometrinae)

Subfamily Geometrinae - Emeralds

Hethemia pistachiaria - Hethemia pistasciaria

Red-fringed Emerald - Nemoria bistriaria

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)

Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)

Subfamily Geometrinae (Emeralds)

Explanation of Names

Geometrinae from the type genus Geometra (Linnaeus), Greek meaning "to measure the earth," referring to the larva, or inchworm, as they move in a looping fashion. (1)

Identification

Adult - Small moths named for their delicate green color; a few are yellowish or have brownish spring forms. M2 arises distinctly above middle of discal cells in FW and HW.

Remarks

Most emeralds can be described by some combination of these general characteristics:

• Abdomen: plain, white dorsal stripe or white spots ringed with red

• Traverse lines: smooth, wavy or scalloped, and whether bold or thin

• Wings: FW pointed or rounded, HW angled or rounded, with discal spots or without

• Fringe: pale green, pale white or red; plain or checkered

• Other: whether AM on the FW continues on HW

Print References

Covell Jr., C.V. 1984. A field guide to the moths of eastern North America. (2)

Internet References

Moths Friends Central

Works Cited

1.	An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names. Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.

2.	Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 4 April, 2005 - 2:19am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Maury Heiman, Robert Lord Zimlich, Randy Hardy
Last updated 15 September, 2021 - 2:27pm

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