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Quiz about Inchworms International
Quiz about Inchworms International

Inchworms International Trivia Quiz


How much do you know about the tiny inchworm that causes such big problems? Here's a brief look at these little creatures. This quiz is the result of a challenge by heidi66. It is also part of Kyleisalive's "Stepping Up" challenge.

A multiple-choice quiz by leith90. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
leith90
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
318,475
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
711
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Question 1 of 10
1. Most people are aware that inchworms can be pests, but do you know what scientific family inchworms belong to? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Inchworms move by "looping" their bodies from back to front. What causes them to move this way? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Actually, inchworms are not really worms at all; they're caterpillars. They will make a pupa and metamorphose into their adult form. What do they change into? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Inchworms have a voracious appetite and spend their entire life feeding. Although the majority are herbivorous, there is a species that is carnivorous. Carnivorous inchworms are indigenous to which area? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The inchworm has many natural predators, but which one of these is NOT their enemy? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Inchworms are quite defenceless when threatened by predators. What is the main form of protection used by the many inchworms? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Inchworms are able to spin a thread, and they use this to drop to the ground. Why do they do this? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The cankerworm is possibly the most destructive of all inchworms because they hatch twice a year. When do they hatch? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. While most adult Geometers are quite dull coloured, some are more brightly coloured, ranging from white to yellow and green. Which of these listed does *not* have green wings? Look closely at the scientific names for a hint! Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In some species of Geometer moths, the females have very small wings, or in some cases, no wings at all. Which of these moths have winged females? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Most people are aware that inchworms can be pests, but do you know what scientific family inchworms belong to?

Answer: Geometridae

Geometrid means "earth-measurer" in Greek and inchworms are called this because it looks like they are measuring the ground, an inch at a time.
Drosophilidae is the fruit fly family. Fabaceae is the black locust.
2. Inchworms move by "looping" their bodies from back to front. What causes them to move this way?

Answer: They have no legs or prolegs on their abdomen

Inchworms have three pairs of true legs at the front end, but only two or three pairs of prolegs at the rear. Prolegs are abdominal appendages, but not true legs. The inchworm moves by drawing its hind end forward while holding on with the front, then moves the front section forward while holding on with the back.
3. Actually, inchworms are not really worms at all; they're caterpillars. They will make a pupa and metamorphose into their adult form. What do they change into?

Answer: Moths

Adult moths are usually a patterned grey or brown and have a slender abdomen. They have broad wings, which are held flat away from the body with the hind wings visible. The wingspan of Geometrid moths varies from one to two inches. Their colouring and patterns afford them excellent camouflage against the tree bark and foliage.
4. Inchworms have a voracious appetite and spend their entire life feeding. Although the majority are herbivorous, there is a species that is carnivorous. Carnivorous inchworms are indigenous to which area?

Answer: Hawaii

The Eupithecia genus of inchworms has over 1000 members worldwide, but only a few are carnivorous. All of these, however, are indigenous to Hawaii. Physically, they differ from their herbivore relatives in that they have of claw-like legs, which they use to grab hold of their prey. They eat small insects such as the fruit fly.
5. The inchworm has many natural predators, but which one of these is NOT their enemy?

Answer: Snails

Other natural predators of the inchworm include Trichogramma wasps. These wasps lay their own eggs inside the inchworm eggs, and the parasitic larva consumes the embryo as it develops. People also wrap sticky paper around the trees to trap the crawlers. If you have a heavy infestation of inchworms on your fruit trees, you may need to resort to spraying with a non-toxic pesticide.
6. Inchworms are quite defenceless when threatened by predators. What is the main form of protection used by the many inchworms?

Answer: They mimic twigs or foliage

If an inchworm is disturbed, it will stand motionless on it's back legs and this makes it look like a small projection on the tree. The species Nemoria has mottled brown projections along their bodies to resemble bits of dead leaves and bark.
7. Inchworms are able to spin a thread, and they use this to drop to the ground. Why do they do this?

Answer: To reach the ground so they can pupate

When it's time for them to pupate, the inchworms drop to the ground on their threads, sometimes in mass numbers.
Inchworms don't need to look for water, they get all the water they need from the leaves they eat. They also cannot mate until after they metamorphose into their adult form.
Inchworms sometimes drop out of sight using their threads as a defence against persistent predators.
8. The cankerworm is possibly the most destructive of all inchworms because they hatch twice a year. When do they hatch?

Answer: Spring and autumn (fall)

There are two types of cankerworms, the fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria) and the spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata). They both hatch from eggs about the time that new buds are forming on trees. The inchworms then feed for about six weeks when the larvae burrow into the soil to pupate.
The fall cankerworm emerges from the pupa in the fall and the females climb the trees to lay her eggs before the winter. The spring cankerworm remains in the pupal stage until the end of winter.
9. While most adult Geometers are quite dull coloured, some are more brightly coloured, ranging from white to yellow and green. Which of these listed does *not* have green wings? Look closely at the scientific names for a hint!

Answer: Chickweed geometer (Haematopis grataria)

The chickweed moth has yellow wings with pink/red strips on them.
Other green Geometrid moths include the subfamily of Geometrinae, commonly called emerald moths. These include the red-fringed emerald (Nemoria bistriaria), the blotched emerald (Comibaena bajularia) and the large emerald (Geometra papilionaria). My personal favourite is the showy emerald moth (Dichorda iradaria) with its bright green wings and lacy patterning.
"Chloro" means "green," so an animal with "chloro" in its name likely has some green on it!
10. In some species of Geometer moths, the females have very small wings, or in some cases, no wings at all. Which of these moths have winged females?

Answer: False hemlock looper (Nepytia canosaria)

After they emerge as moths, the winged females fly into the tree to mate, while the wingless females mate on the ground before climbing the trees. The moths then lay their eggs under flaky bark or in cracks or crevices in the tree trunk.
One way of differentiating between male and female winged moths is by their antennae. The males often have feathery antennae to enable them to sense the female pheromones.
Source: Author leith90

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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