Analysis of morphology of neotropical Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) using exo- and endoskeletal characters

The Geometrinae are commonly distinguished from other subfamilies of Geometridae using genitalic characters, wing venation, and scale patterns. However, removing scales from whole bodies of Geometrinae enables observation of further morphological variation of exoskeletal and endoskeletal characters. Using the method of Lee and Brown (2006), whole body mounts of descaled specimens of Neotropical Geometrinae were prepared. These were compared with whole body mounts of representatives from four other subfamilies of Geometridae. Variation of characters on the descaled head, thoracic segments, and tegulae was observed between subfamilies, indicating that these characters may be of diagnostic value. Further morphological variation was observed within Geometrinae, at the generic level. One character in particular, the length of the foretibial epiphysis AKA antennal comb, appears to be directly correlated with length of antennal pectination, implying functional variation.