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Biston (moth)

{{Short description|Genus of moths}}

{{Automatic_taxobox

| image = Biston.strataria.7548.jpg

| image_caption = Oak beauty, Biston strataria

| taxon = Biston

| authority = 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

}}

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.

Distribution

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

Description

File:Biston antennae.JPG) 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."{{cite book |last=Hampson |first=G. F. |authorlink=George Hampson |date=1895 |title=The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma: Moths Volume III |volume=Moths - Vol. III |page=245 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/180173#page/275/mode/1up |access-date=4 March 2024 |via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}} {{PD-notice}}

Diversity

The genus currently contains 54 species and 40 subspecies.

{{clear}}

Species

Species include:

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite web |last=Savela |first=Markku |url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/geometroidea/geometridae/ennominae/biston/ |title=Biston Leach, [1815] |website=Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms |accessdate=July 25, 2018}}
  • Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. British insects: the genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae. Version: 29 December 2011 [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151616/http://delta-intkey.com/britin/geo/www/biston.htm] Full description
  • [http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/projects/hostplants/list.dsml?PSpeciesqtype=starts+with&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&sort=Family&Familyqtype=starts+with&beginIndex=0&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Genus=biston&Genusqtype=starts+with&PGenusqtype=starts+with&searchPageURL=index%2edsml%3fPSpeciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26PFamilyqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26sort%3dFamily%26Familyqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26beginIndex%3d90%26Speciesqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26Genus%3dbiston%26Genusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26PGenusqtype%3dstarts%2bwith Caterpillar Hostplant Database]{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20061116133550/http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/lepid/lepg.htm#anchor369867 Nomina Insecta Nearctica]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310235159/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=297260 Fauna Europaea]

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Category:Bistonini

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