LEPIDOPTERA. 



287 



Fig. 342. — Hamatopis 

 grataria. 



The Chickweed Geometer, Hcematopis grataria (Hse- 

 mat'o-pis gra-ta'ri-a). — This little moth 

 (Fig. 342) is very common in our meadows 

 and gardens during the summer and au- 

 tumn months. Its wings are reddish 

 yellow, with the fringes and two trans- 

 verse bands pink. It is found from Maine 

 to Texas. The larva feeds on the common chick-weed, 

 Stellaria media* 



Family Geometrid^E (Ge-o-met'ri-dae). 

 The Green G comet rids {Ge-om ' c-trids). 

 As a rule the members of this family are bright green in 



iiij color. And as we have 



1 4 but one other common 

 Geometrid {Dyspteris, p. 

 286) of this color, the 

 family may be well termed 

 v -» the Green Geometrids. 

 vrii The distinctive structure 

 that characterizes this 

 family is the fact that 

 vein V 4 of the hind wings 

 arises much nearer to 

 vein V, than to vein V 3 

 (Fig. 343). In this family 

 the tendency to expan- 

 sion of the humeral angle 

 of the hind wings, which 

 is exhibited by all Geo- 

 metrina, and which is cor- 

 related with the promi- 

 nent bend into this angle 

 of vein II, characteristic 

 of this super-family, is 



vir 



Fig. 343.— Wings of Geometra iridaria. 



* This moth is figured and mentioned here because it is one of our 

 most common species, and not as a typical illustration of the Sterrhidae. It 



