M.Sc. Dominic Wanke

The family Geometridae is one of the most species-rich families within the order Lepidoptera. Many species within this family are often known for their inconspicuous appearance, which makes a identification only by regarding external morphological characters difficult or even impossible. Therefore, using anatomical preparations (i.e. genitalia studies), distribution records, and genetic data are necessary for a certain determination. This is equally true for moths of the genera Triphosa and Nychiodes. Within these genera, species occurring in the western Palearctic and eastern Asia are well known, but information from Middle East and Central Asia is fragmentary or missing. Thus, it is important to gain insight into these genera and understand their taxonomy and systematics.