Biston | |
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Oak beauty, Biston strataria | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Geometridae |
Subfamily: | Ennominae |
Tribe: | Bistonini |
Genus: |
Biston Leach, 1815 |
Synonyms | |
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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 species of Biston are widely distributed in Holarctic, Oriental and Ethiopian regions.
Palpi short and hairy. Thorax stout and clothed with thick pile. Legs hairy. Hind tibia not dilated and with slight spurs present. Forewings with rounded apex and oblique outer margin. Vein 3 from near angle of cell. Veins 7 to 9 stalked from near upper angle and veins 10, 11 stalked, where 10 often connected with veins 8 and 9. Hindwings with long cell and vein 3 from the angle.
The genus currently contains 54 species and 40 subspecies.
Species include: