A Revision of the Moths of the Subfamily Geometrinae of America North of Mexico (Insecta, Lepidoptera)

A Revision of the Moths of the Subfamily Geometrinae of America North of Mexico (Insecta, Lepidoptera)

This book unveils a novel classification for the Geometrinae moths of North America. Previous literature recognized 91 moth species in this subfamily, while this text reduces that count to 75. This book presents an extensive revision of the subfamily since the last major examination of it in 1933. The author's primary sources of analysis are the male and female genitalia and larvae of the moths studied. The inclusion of genital images is a significant departure from previous scholarship, and it enables far more precise identification of the moths. Beyond modernizing and standardizing the classification system, the author proposes several new taxonomic changes including the introduction of four new tribal names and the renaming of 10 species. The book's findings have major implications for our understanding of the moths' evolutionary history and their place within the broader insect world.