The leafy green Red-Bordered Emerald, a southern and eastern moth, has a thin red line and checkered fringe.
Red-Bordered Emeralds are part of the Geometer moth family. This subspecies contains a handful of cheery green moths that have thin wisps of white lines crossing their wings. A similar-looking relative is the Red-fringed Emerald Moth. They like to rest with their wings flat (open), which makes observing them easier than other types of moths. This particular species has a deep red edge all around the wings just before its red and white checkered fringe. Each wing has a black distal spot.
Caterpillars eat the leaves of oak and red maple trees as well as ferns that may grow in the shade of the trees. Look for Red-Bordered Emeralds at night in or around deciduous woods. They are active year round in the southernmost part of their range. Two broods can be produced in a year, so adults can be seen on-wing during spring and again in autumn.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Geometridae
Genus:Nemoria
Species:lixaria
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Nemoria lixaria
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 20mm to 30mm (0.78in to 1.17in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy
1
Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.
3
Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.
5
Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.
6
Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.
NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.
Colors: green, white, red, black
