Nemoria lixaria, the Red-bordered emerald moth;
Volusia county, Florida (12 March 2015).
Small but distinctive, the Red-bordered emerald, Nemoria lixaria, is one of my favorite local moth species. Ranging throughout much of the eastern United States, we see this species year-round in central Florida. Because of its diminutive size, however, it’s a moth people often don’t notice. It’s only when you stop, lean in, and look closer that this moth’s brilliance manifests. This particular individual was photographed clinging to one of our home’s windows.
Learn more about the Red-bordered emerald.