Black-bordered Lemon Moth
Marimatha nigrofimbria
The striking yellow and black pattern provides excellent camouflage when resting among yellow-centered wildflowers or sun-dappled grass.
- Scientific name
- Marimatha nigrofimbria
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Noctuidae › Marimatha
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Meadows, old fields, and grassy forest edges.
- Diet
- Larvae feed on crabgrass (Digitaria species); adults feed on floral nectar.
- Range
- United States, Southern Canada, Mexico
- Size
- Wingspan of 18 to 21 mm
- Lifespan
- 7-14 days as an adult
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Light pollution, habitat fragmentation, and heavy use of lawn herbicides.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. This moth does not bite or sting. If found indoors, gently capture in a jar and release outside. Avoid touching the wings, as the delicate scales are easily damaged.
The Black-bordered Lemon Moth ( Marimatha nigrofimbria ) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from Massachusetts westward through northern Ohio to Illinois and Oklahoma and southward to southern Florida and southernmost Texas.
Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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