Boarmiini
Encyclopedia
The Boarmiini are a large tribe
of geometer moth
s in the Ennominae
subfamily.
, Bupalini, Erannini, Gnophini, Melanolophini, Phaseliini and Theriini all merged into it. The eggs of all these geometer moths have the chorion
cells characteristically arranged in longitudinal rows. The eggs of the Boarmiini in the narrow sense usually have a typical slender and narrow shape, with a soft chorion consisting of heavy-walled but unridged polygon
al cells. However, in Cleora
for example, the eggs approach the wide-walled shape found in many Bistonini. Adding further to the uncertainty is the fact that the Alsophilinae
, usually treated as a small subfamily in their own right, might actually be a specialized lineage of Boarmiini; though their caterpillars are quite different, their pupa
e have a peculiar T-shaped cremaster
which very much resembles that of the Boarmiini.
Boarmiini in the narrow sense are typically slender geometer moths that rest with the wings spread out flatly and do not tuck the hindwings under the forewings while at rest. Typically, they are cryptically
colored and rather dark, with brownish-grey hues predominating; in many, there are two or three weak wavy bands extending across the wings and forming a rough semicircle when the moths are at rest. Though they all look quite similar in habitus
, there are few unequivocal characters that can be easily used to recognize adult members of this tribe. The females of many species
have a conspicuously long ovipositor
for hiding away the typical soft-shelled eggs. The valva
and harpe (or "clasper") of the male genitalia are highly complex in almost all species and often bear various extensions. The juxta
is typically well-developed, large and extended. Their caterpillar
s are rarely plump, and apparently at least some mimic twigs or thin leaves.
In addition, the genera Acrodontis
and Xerodes
(usually placed in Ennomini
), as well as Monocerotesa
(usually in Macariini
) are placed in the Boarmiini by some authors. "Boarmia" penthearia however appears to belong to the Macariini.
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
of geometer moth
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
s in the Ennominae
Ennominae
Ennominae is the largest subfamily of the geometer moth family with some 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. They are usually fairly small moth species, though some grow considerably larger. This subfamily has a global distribution. It includes some species that are notorious defoliating...
subfamily.
Description and systematics
This family is sometimes massively expanded, with the closely related BistoniniBistonini
The Bistonini are a tribe of geometer moths in subfamily the Ennominae. As numerous ennomine genera have not yet been assigned to a tribe, the genus list is preliminary. In addition, the entire tribe is sometimes merged into a much-expanded Boarmiini...
, Bupalini, Erannini, Gnophini, Melanolophini, Phaseliini and Theriini all merged into it. The eggs of all these geometer moths have the chorion
Chorion
The chorion is one of the membranes that exist during pregnancy between the developing fetus and mother. It is formed by extraembryonic mesoderm and the two layers of trophoblast and surrounds the embryo and other membranes...
cells characteristically arranged in longitudinal rows. The eggs of the Boarmiini in the narrow sense usually have a typical slender and narrow shape, with a soft chorion consisting of heavy-walled but unridged polygon
Polygon
In geometry a polygon is a flat shape consisting of straight lines that are joined to form a closed chain orcircuit.A polygon is traditionally a plane figure that is bounded by a closed path, composed of a finite sequence of straight line segments...
al cells. However, in Cleora
Cleora
Cleora is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-Species:* Cleora alienaria * Cleora biclavata * Cleora cinctaria – Ringed Carpet * Cleora cnephaea Prout, 1915...
for example, the eggs approach the wide-walled shape found in many Bistonini. Adding further to the uncertainty is the fact that the Alsophilinae
Alsophilinae
Alsophilinae is a subfamily of the moth family Geometridae, consisting of two genera, Alsophila and Inurois....
, usually treated as a small subfamily in their own right, might actually be a specialized lineage of Boarmiini; though their caterpillars are quite different, their pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
e have a peculiar T-shaped cremaster
Cremaster
Cremaster is a term derived from the Greek verb κρεμάννυμι = "I hang ", not from Latin cremare = "to burn". It may refer to:* The cremaster muscle, part of genital anatomy in human males** Cremaster reflex, a reflex in the muscle...
which very much resembles that of the Boarmiini.
Boarmiini in the narrow sense are typically slender geometer moths that rest with the wings spread out flatly and do not tuck the hindwings under the forewings while at rest. Typically, they are cryptically
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
colored and rather dark, with brownish-grey hues predominating; in many, there are two or three weak wavy bands extending across the wings and forming a rough semicircle when the moths are at rest. Though they all look quite similar in habitus
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, there are few unequivocal characters that can be easily used to recognize adult members of this tribe. The females of many species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
have a conspicuously long ovipositor
Ovipositor
The ovipositor is an organ used by some animals for oviposition, i.e., the laying of eggs. It consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages formed to transmit the egg, to prepare a place for it, and to place it properly...
for hiding away the typical soft-shelled eggs. The valva
Valva
In biology, a clasper is a male anatomical structure found some groups of animals, used in mating.Male cartilaginous fish have claspers formed from the posterior portion of their pelvic fin which serve as intromittent organs used to channel semen into the female's cloaca during mating...
and harpe (or "clasper") of the male genitalia are highly complex in almost all species and often bear various extensions. The juxta
Juxta
For the open source bibliographical software, see Juxta .The juxta is an organ in the males of most Lepidoptera that supports the aedeagus, the organ used for reproduction in insects. The juxta is located between the two valvae....
is typically well-developed, large and extended. Their caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s are rarely plump, and apparently at least some mimic twigs or thin leaves.
Selected genera
As numerous ennomine genera have not yet been unequivocally assigned to a tribe, the genus list is preliminary.In addition, the genera Acrodontis
Acrodontis
Acrodontis is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-Species:* Acrodontis aenigma * Acrodontis fumosa Prout * Acrodontis insularis Holloway, 1993* Acrodontis kotschubeji Sheljuzhko, 1944-References:*...
and Xerodes
Xerodes
Xerodes is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
(usually placed in Ennomini
Ennomini
The Ennomini are a tribe of geometer moths in the Ennominae subfamily. They are large-bodied and rather nondescript Ennominae, overall showing many similarities to the closely related Azelinini and Nacophorini....
), as well as Monocerotesa
Monocerotesa
Monocerotesa is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
(usually in Macariini
Macariini
The Macariini are a tribe of geometer moths in the Ennominae subfamily. Though they share many traits with the Sterrhinae, this is probably plesiomorphic rather than indicative of a close relationship, and DNA sequence data points to the Boarmiini as particularly close relatives of the Macariini...
) are placed in the Boarmiini by some authors. "Boarmia" penthearia however appears to belong to the Macariini.