Geometer

The caterpillars of moths within the family Geometridae. These caterpillars commonly walk by stretching their bodies forward, holding on with their front legs and bringing their back legs forward. This draws the body up into the shape of a loop and gives the caterpillars one of their other names, loopers.

The names inch-worm and earth-measurer come from the caterpillars appearing to measure the surface on which they are walking one body length at a time.

Two photographs of a Geometrid caterpillar illustrating the distinctive locomotion of Geometrids.
Photograph by Keith Edkins licensed under Creative Commons.

Other names for (or types of) Geometer include:

• Earth-measurer
• Inch-worm
• Looper

Related terms

• Caterpillar
• Family
• Larva
• Noctuid

Related groups of terms

• Insect life cycles

Related pages on this web site

• Butterflies and Moths - Order Lepidoptera
• Caterpillar caresheet
• Insect life cycles

See other words beginning with G