Biston (moth)

Genus of moths From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Biston is a genus of large, long-winged moths belonging to the family Geometridae. It is most notable for containing the well-known peppered moth. The genus was first described by William Elford Leach in 1815.

Phylum:Arthropoda
Clade:Pancrustacea
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Quick facts Scientific classification, Synonyms ...
Biston
Oak beauty, Biston strataria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Tribe: Bistonini
Genus: Biston
Leach, 1815
Synonyms
  • Dasyphara Billberg, 1820
  • Pachys Hübner, 1822
  • Eubyja Hübner, 1825
  • Amphidasis Treitschke, 1825
  • Amphidasys Sodoffsky, 1837
  • Amphidasea Unger, 1856
  • Buzura Walker, 1863
  • Culcula Moore, 1888
  • Eubyjodonta Warren, 1893
  • Blepharoctenia Warren, 1894
  • Epamraica Matsumura, 1910
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Distribution

The species of Biston are widely distributed in Holarctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian regions.

Description

Antennae of Biston species. 1 bipectinate, with long rami (male of Biston melacron) 2 bipectinate, with short rami (male of Biston thibetaria) 3 filiform (female of Biston betularia). Scale bar = 1 mm

In 1895, British entomologist George Hampson described characteristics of the genus as follows:

"Its palpi are short and hairy. The thorax is stout and clothed with a thick pile. Its legs are hairy. The hind tibia are not dilated and have slight spurs. The forewings have rounded apexes and oblique outer margins. Vein 3 from near angle of cell. Veins 7 to 9 stalked from near the upper angle, and veins 10 and 11 stalked, where 10 often connected with veins 8 and 9. Hindwings with long cells and vein 3 from the angle."[1]

Diversity

The genus currently contains 54 species and 40 subspecies.

Species

Species include:

References

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