Geometer moth

Geometer moth Temporal range: Eocene to Recent 35 mya to present
Chiasmia species
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Geometroidea
Family:	Geometridae

Geometer moths are a large family of moths in the Lepidoptera. Over 23,000 species have been described. Most of them are nocturnal: only a few are active during the day.

The imagos (adults) have wingspans between 10 millimetres (0.39 in) and 70 millimetres (2.8 in). Their caterpillars move in a special way, they seem to "measure the earth". For this reason, the caterpillars are sometimes called inchworms.

A well-known species is the peppered moth (Biston betularia). Many species are classified as pests.