Ludlow's Bhutan Glory was discovered from India!!

Ludlow's Bhutan Glory(Bhutanitis ludlowi) was discovered from India!!

▲ A male of Bhutanitis ludlowi visiting a flower

(Trashiyangtse, E. Bhutan, Aug. 2011)  Photo by WATANABE Yasuyuki



 

A great news has just arrived from India!

 

   Ludlow's Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis ludlowi) was discovered from Arunachal Pradesh, India. This magnificent swallowtail was re-discovered after almost 80-year absence in 2009. This species was thought to be endemic to small area of eastern Bhutan. In 2011, our society has a joint research with Bhutanese government and unveiled its biology.

 

   The observation and finding in our survey was described in our journal, Butterflies No.60.

 

    see  http://bsj-t.blogspot.jp/2012/06/our-journal-butterflies-teinopalpus.html

 

   The new discovery from India expands the distribution of this swallowtail. 

 

   Details are available from the following link.

 

   see  http://ifoundbutterflies.org/54-bhutanitis/bhutanitis-ludlowi

 

 

Our journal, Butterflies (Teinopalpus) No.61 has been published!

 ▲"Butterflies (Teinopalpus)" No.61

 

Our journal, Butterflies (Teinopalpus) No.61 has been published!     Our journal Butterflies (Teinopalpus) has just been published. In this new volume No.61, the featured paper is as follows.

Miyagi, A. Field observations of Pithecops corvus from autumn through next spring in Okinawa Island

 

▲The paper



This issue is available for non-members. Those who would like to get the copy, please send e-mail to the following address. One copy is 40 US$ (including the international postal fee)

[Contact] welcome_scripts@yahoo.co.jp

 

[Movie File] Ovipositional behavior of Vanessa indica

[Movie File]　Ovipositional behavior of Vanessa indica　
   It is amazing that butterflies can select their foodplants correctly to lay eggs from numerous kinds of plants growing in the field. Once the mother butterfly successfully comes near to her foodplant then she starts to drum the surfice of nearby leaves at random to find the real one. This is because the butterfly has the chemotactile receptor on its foretarsus so it tries to "taste" the plant chemically by this behavior.

 

▲Usual style of the adult butterfly. Forelegs are folded on the thorax.

 

▲Forelegs magnified.

　In the case of Nymphalid butterfly, it uses the forelegs which are usually folded on its thorax. This video is the female of Indian Admiral (Vanessa indica) which is drumming its foodplant, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) by its forelegs. In the field, it is not easy to observe such an interesting behavior.

(Okinawa, JAPAN September, 2009)

 

 

An abberant form of Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon)

▲Graphium sarpedon (Vietnam)
　Left; Normal form Right; Abberant form(preserved in RIEB)

▲　Ditto, underside

An abberant form of Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon)

   Common bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon) is known to have an abberant form which lacks almost all its bluish spots on its wings. This blackish form is very rare but found in many places from old days. Checking the wing patterns of this form carefully, one can find out the one bluish spot on its each forewing's apex usually remains although all the other bluish spots are missing. The reason is not certain but it is possible that this spot may have some special meaning.

"Rainbow Bridge" A huge artwork made of butterfly specimens

"Rainbow Bridge" A huge artwork made of butterfly specimens

　Above photo is the huge artwork made of numerous butterfly specimens such as Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda), Morpho spp., Delias spp. and so on. You can see this great work in the 10-year anniversary special exhibition held at Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History. Dr. Kyoichiro UEDA, the curator at this museum and the trustee of our society, will be welcoming you.

[Movie File] Fischer's Cupid (Tongeia fischeri)

[Movie File] Fischer's Cupid (Tongeia fischeri) 　

Fischer's Cupid (Tongeia fischeri) is a small Lycaenid butterfly which ranges broadly in eastern Eurasia. In Japan it can be seen from central to southern district. This species is popular among some Japanese butterfly enthusiasts because it flies until late in autumn after other butterfly species disappear. In addition it has a slight local variation in its wing markings, so some enthusiasts are eagerly collecting as many specimens as possible from various localities. Larva feeds on succulent plants such as Orostachys japonica.

(Matsumoto-shi, Nagano, JAPAN October 2012)

 

 ▲A adult butterfly basking. Blackish upperside has faint gloss under sunlight.



▲Foodplant; Orostachys japonica In autumn numerous small collective flowers bloom in ears. These flowers are good nectaring sources for adult butterflies.

 

 



The Constable (Genus Dichorragia) and its allies (Part 2)

▲Dichorragia nesimachus pelurius(C. Sulawesi, Indoneia)

[preserved in RIEB, Tokyo]

   Continued to the previous post, the Constable (Genus Dichorragia) and its allies are introduced. First of all, Dichorragia nesimachus has many sub-species especially in southeastern Asian Islands. One of the examples is shown above. This is the subspecies endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is much larger in size and the pointed apex in forewings is quite different from Japanese subspecies.

▲Stibochiona nicea (Yunnan, China)

[preserved in RIEB, Tokyo]

▲Stibochiona coresia (Sumatra, Indonesia)

[preserved in RIEB, Tokyo]

 

   The above two species belong to Genus Stibochiona. This small Genus contains three species from India to southeastern Asian islands. Among them, Stibochiona nicea is confined to continental Asia from India to China including Indochina and Malaysia. Another species, Stibochiona coresia is known from Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. Both species seem to be allied species of Dichorragia nesimachus from thier wing markings. 

 

▲Amnosia decora (Sumatra, Indonesia)

[preserved in RIEB, Tokyo]

▲Ditto, Underside

 

   On the other hand, there is a very interesting species in Malaysia and Indonesia. Amnosia decora seems to belong to Amathusiinae or Satyrinae at a glance. But this species is definitely the allied species of Dichorragia nesimachus, considering its early stages. Amnosia is monotypic genus, this species is known from Malay Peninsula to Sumatra or Java.

　



The Constable (Genus Dichorragia) and its allies

 

 ▲A pupa of Dichorragia nesimachus

▲A newly emerged adult butterfly of Dichorragia nesimachus

▲A red proboscis of Dichorragia nesimachus

 

 The Constable (Genus Dichorragia) and its allies

The author of this blog happened to obtain the pupa of the Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus) the other day. The shape of the pupa looks quite similar to a dead leaf. Unexpectedly the adult butterfly has emerged from the pupa because of the warm weather in Tokyo. Thus here the author of this blog would like to introduce this beautiful Nymphalid butterfly.

The Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus) ranges rather broadly from Nepal or northern India in the west to New Guinea in the east. In Japan northern Honshu (mainland) is the northernmost of its distribution. Genus Dichorragia contains only three species, namely ninus (Moluccas and PNG), nisseus (SW China) and this species. A Chinese species, nisseus is shown above compared with nesimachus. Some researchers argue that nisseus is only a sub-species or mere variation of nesimachus, however it is likely to be a independent species.

▲D. nisseus(Sichuan, China) and D. nesimachus (Yunnan, China)

 

 The Tabby (Pseudergolis wedah) is known to one of allied species of  Genus Dichorragia although its wing markings are quite different from each other. But if one can study the early stages especially the pupa of both species, it can be easily understood that they are closely related. The figure shown above is from our journal "Butterflies" No.17.

▲Early stages of Pseudergolis wedah (after Butterflies No.17)

[Reference]
Harada, M. 1997, Early stages of Pseudergolis wedah in Sichuan, China. Butterflies 17:15-17.
　

[Movie File] Scent marking behavior of Parantica sita

[Movie File] Scent marking behavior of Parantica sita　

Males of Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita) are known to have this behavior which is closely related to the mating behavior. The male scrubs the scent scales on the hindwing by the tip of his abdomen. The hairpencil on the tip of abdomen is exposed. It is assumed that the male collects scent scales which give off some pheromone on his hairpencil. When the male try to mate the female, he uses the hairpencil with the pheromone. Thus this behavior can be explained as the preparation for the mating. Interestingly males sometimes flutter their wings as if they try to cause the pheromone to permeate.

(Ishigaki-jima, Okinawa, JAPAN June 2010 / Okinawajima, Okinawa, JAPAN Oct. 2009)

 

▲A male flutters its wings as if he tries to cause the pheromone to permeate

▲The yellow hairpencil on the tip of the abdomen is exposed

[Movie File] Grey Commodore (Bhagadatta austenia)

[Movie File] Grey Commodore (Bhagadatta austenia)

　Grey Commodore (Bhagadatta austenia) is a unique Sino-Himalayan nymphalid species known from India, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China. Generally it is found in the forest at 500-1,000m. Flight is strong. In Kachin state, northern Myanmar this butterfly was seen from April to September continuously. Adult butterflies were observed to be attracted by animal droppings or rotten fruits. The early stages of this species have been unveiled in southern China. (Wang and Morishita (1998)) The taxonomic status is still uncertain.

(Kachin state, northern MYANMAR May 1999)

 

【References】
Wang & Morishita, 1998. Note on the immature stages of Bhagadatta austenia in South China (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Butterflies 19: 30-32.

 

 ▲Bhagadatta austenia male Upperside (Kachin, N. MYANMAR)

 ▲Ditto, Underside

▲Early stages （after Wang & Morishita (1998)）



[Movie File] Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

[Movie File] Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is one of the most common Fritillary butterflies seen in most of mainland Japan. It widely ranges from northern to southern part of Japan including some remote islands such as Sado-island, Oki-islands or Tsushima-island. This species likes to visit various flowers. Usually seen near small stream and forest. At low altitude adult butterflies appear from early June but immediately disappear there and again seen from middle September to October. Some researchers claim that adult butterflies of this species migrate from low altitude to highlands to take shelter from the summer heat. In cool places, adult butterflies can be seen continuously from July to September. The larva feeds on viola. Females of this species are known to have some color variation. Dark form (see figures) is rarely seen mostly in eastern Japan. The above figured dark form was collected in Tottori Prefecture in eastern Japan more than 40 years ago by Mr. Uemura Yoshinobu (President of our society), now preserved in RIEB, Tokyo.

  (Yamagata-shi, Yamagata, JAPAN Sep. 2012)

▲Female; Dark form (right; collected in Tottori, eastern Japan) and normal form, upperside (preserved in RIEB, Tokyo)

▲Ditto, underside

[Movie File] Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita)

[Movie File] Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita)

   Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita) is a large-sized butterfly with extensive and transparent bluish white markings. This species is famous for its seasonal migration in Japan. In summer we see numerous adult butterflies in mountains but there is not the stable habitat. From late spring to early summer, this butterfly flies toward nothernpart of Japan, sometimes it is obesrved in Hokkaido, northernmost island. Spending summer at cool place like highlands, then from late summer this butterfly goes down to south. Larvae cannot survive the winter except warmer places in Japan. Now many people are enjoying "mark and release" research to record how far this butterfly migrates. It is reported that some butterfly had moved almost 2,000 km from north to south.

(Koushu-shi, Yamanashi, JAPAN Aug. 2012)



 

▲Male has sexual markings at the bottom of hindwings

(see yellow-circled spots)

▲Female does not have sexual markings (see yellow-circled spots)


 

[Movie File] Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

▲Wing markings are unique. Deep-red in upperside reminds graceful velvet

 

   Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is easy to identify because of its unique wing markings. The distribution of this species is covering almost all over Eurasia and North America. In Japan this species is confined to the mountains. It appears from middle August when other butterflies have already been worn. Flight is swift and glaceful. It rarely visits flowers, it is usually attracted by tree sap, rotten fruits or animal droppings. This species hibernate as an adult butterfly. In May or June worn butterflies with their wing edge in white are seen.

 (Koushu-shi, Yamanashi, JAPAN Aug. 2012)

[Movie File] Asama White Admiral (Ladoga glorifica)

[Movie File] Asama White Admiral (Ladoga glorifica)

Asama White Admiral (Ladoga glorifica) is endemic to mainland Japan (confined to Honshu). The English name "Asama" is derived from Mt. Asama where this species was discovered for the first time. This species looks quite similar to White Admiral (Ladoga camilla) which ranges broadly from Europe to China and Japan. To distinguish these two similar species, one must study very carefully. Generally speaking, the white band on upperside is more conspicuous in this species.
(Yamanakako, Yamanashi, JAPAN Aug. 2012)

[Movie File] Japanese White-Letter Hairstreak (Fixsenia mera)

[Movie File] Japanese White-Letter Hairstreak (Fixsenia mera)

Japanese White-Letter Hairstreak (Fixsenia mera)　is tiny and unremarkable butterfly often seen at mountain plateau and forest. The size and wing shape are easy to be confused with Zephyrus Hairstreaks. This species is endemic to Japan. It ranges fairly broadly from northern to southern Japan, however it is usually uncommon in everywhere. In western and southern part of Japan, it is definitely rare. In some localities, the conspicuous form which lacks white line on underside is known. These variation seems attractive to Lycaenidae enthusiasts, so some people are fond of collecting this species from various places.      
   This video was filmed in the highlands located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the highest peak in Japan.
(Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka, Japan, Aug. 2012)

[Movie File] Defending behavior of A nymphalid pupa

[Movie File] Defending behavior of A nymphalid pupa

   Nymphalid pupae sometimes defend themselves against parasitic wasps by heavy rotary movements. This behavior has already been reported in papers but this time we introduce it in video file. Video is much more eloquent than text information. The author of this blog shows his deepest gratitude to Akino-taiin (Okinawa) for providing this interesting video.
(Okinawajima, Okinawa, JAPAN May 2012)

[Movie File] Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda)

[Movie File] Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda)　

   Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda) is famous among Japanese as the national butterfly of Japan. It was selected in 1957 by the Entomological Society of Japan. In Japan, this species widely ranges from northern part (Hokkaido) through southern part (Kyushu). It appears once in a year from June. Males appear about a week earlier than females. This butterfly extremely likes to sip tree sap. Sometimes numerous butterflies are gathering at tree sap. Flight is swift and strong, this butterfly is surely a "king of summer forest". (Nirasaki-shi, Yamanashi, JAPAN July 2012)

         Male of  Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda)

[Movie File] Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii)

▲Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii) resting on the leaf

(Chin, Myanmar Sep. 2002 Photo by TS)

[Movie File] Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii)　

   Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii) is the world famous swallowtail for its bizarre and graceful appearance. It ranges from Bhutan, NW India, Myanmar to S China. The population in Thailand (ssp. ocellatomaculata ) is said to have gone extinct in early 80's. Ludlow's Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis ludlowi) which is known only from E. Bhutan is a distinct species. Our society had the joint research work on this species in 2011 and unveiled its morphology and biology. （See Butterflies No.60）

   This butterfly appears once in a year after the monsoon. September is the best season to observe this butterfly in most area. This butterfly has a quite odd biology because it is more active in foggy and rainy day. No other butterfly likes to fly in such unpleasant weather. This video was filmed in Chin state, western Myanmar in 2005. I have never seen any video of this butterfly (though some photos are found on the Internet), so I decided to share it. Sorry for the low quality of the video.

  (Chin state, W MYANMAR Oct. 2005)

[Movie File] Expedition to W. Myanmar

Movie File: Expedition to W. Myanmar

▲Location of Chin state, western Myanmar （after Wikipedia）

   Mr. S who is one of the leading figures in our society provided us very precious video. He has been earnestly studying the butterfly fauna of Myanmar for more than 15 years. Last June he visited Chin state, western Myanmar. Chin state is located in the border area just next to India. Most of the state is occupied with mountains called Chin Hill. Chin state is also famous as the battle field during WWII. The record of butterfly fauna in this area is quite scarce, only some old literatures such as Watson (Brithsh Army and posted in this area during the service) are available.

   Recently Mr. S has visited there several times and achieved many interesting findings. Among them, the discovery of a striking new Genus of Zephyrus Hairstreak (Genus Shizuyaozephyrus) is notable. Unfortunately this visit was not so much successful because of the heavy rain and bad road condition. In this video some common butterflies are fimed. The details should be reported by Mr. S himself in the future.

The outbreak of Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea)

[Movie File] The outbreak of Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea) in Aomori, northern Japan
 　

   The outbreak of Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea) has been observed for these several years in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. The location is an ordinary forest near the apple orchard that is often seen around this area. When the author of this blog saw the photos published in some magazines and journals, he was very surprised because the scene is quite unusual.
   This month, thanks to Mr. Kudo Tadashi and Mr. Kudo Seiya who have been continuously observing this phenomenon, the author of this blog had a chance to visit Aomori. The movie file is filmed during the visit.

   Before arriving at the spot, many adult butterflies of Orange Hairstreak were flying almost everywhere. As soon as they got off the spot where Mr. Kudo recommends as the good observing point, numerous butterflies of Orange Hairstreak surrounded them.

　Young shoots of Oak trees (Quercus), hostplant of Orange Hairstreak, were observed everywhere. It was quite unusual situation in June because all the young shoots had been devoured by larvae. Amazing situation occurred. As all the young shoots were eaten up, it was possible to see through the forest even in the season of fresh green!
　
   Around 5 p.m., the number of butterflies which flew around the canopy increased drastically. It was very fine day. So the butterflies looked just like the orange confetti against the blue sky. It was too many to count how many butterflies in the sight. The show continued past 6 p.m. and gradually ceased toward the sunset.

   Dr. Yago Masaya, the academic committee chairman of our society, who surveyed this site pointed that the pesticide used in nearby apple orchards might affect this outbreak. By the interviews to several farmers, he knew that they were trying to use less pesticide than before and the interval was longer. These trends may cause the parasite bees and flies which kill many eggs and young larvae of Orange Hairstreak to decline. Dr. Yago emphasizes that it needs further research.
　
   Last but not least, the author of this blog would like to show his deepest gratitude to Mr. Kudo Tadashi, Mr. Kudo Seiya and Mr. Kudo Shuji for their kind help.

▲Many butterflies gathering at the chestnut flower

▲On the underside of the Quercus leaves, many pupae (emerged) were found

▲An adult butterfly showing upperside of wings

(usually this scene is rare)

Which way does the mother butterfly hide her egg?

▲The adult butterfly of Walnut Blue Hairstreak (Chaetoprocta odata) with the magnified abdomens of both sexes (after Kato et Harada (1995))

▲Eggs which are covered by hairs (ibid.)

Which way does the mother butterfly hide her egg --- to use own hairs or to collect dusts? (Continued to the previous post)

   Previous post has been popular among readers of this blog because the movie file was quite unique. Many experts gave suggestive comments. While the author of this blog stopped to think over the ecology of Lycaenidae, he remembered one old article of our journal. The article introduces another Lycaenidae, a kind of Zephyrus Hairstreak, which has a habit of hiding its eggs by its own hairs on the abdomen. The above images are from Butterflies No. 10 (1995). This species, Walnut Blue Hairstreak (Chaetoprocta odata) is known from India and Nepal. As the name explains, its hostplant is the walnut trees (Juglans spp.). Females of this species have a ball-like cluster of hairs on the tip of their abdomen. When they lay eggs, they rub these hairs against their eggs to hide. Which way does the mother butterfly hide her egg --- to use own hairs or to collect dusts? The evolution of such behavior found in some Lycaenidae is quite interesting.

[Movie File] Ovipositional behavior of Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea)

[Movie File] Ovipositional behavior of Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea)　
   Orange Hairstreak (Japonica lutea) is one of the most common Zephyrus Hairstreaks in Japan. It ranges from sub-urban area to the mountain. The larva feeds on Oak tree (Quercus spp.) The adult butterfly is active from late afternoon till the sunset. Sometimes we can see numerous adult butterflies are flying the canopy of forest. It looks like the orange shower in the forest.
  
   On a sunny afternoon in this June, I found one female perched on the twig of Quercus tree. She was about to lay eggs, so I got interested in observing and filming her behavior. This species has a peculiar habit of hiding its eggs by small dusts. Soon after laying one egg, this female started to collect small dusts on the twig by using her abdomen. The egg seems to be sticky on its surface and small dusts are glued to the egg. This butterfly continued this work for about 5 minutes.

   Then unexpected thing has happened. A small weevil was approaching to the butterfly. It seemed that the small beetle wanted to go down the twig but the butterfly was on its route. Then the weevil kicked the butterfly by its foreleg! The butterfly dropped from the twig and flew away, abandoning her egg-laying behavior halfway.

   I was very satisfied with filming such an interesting nature drama!!

(Hachiouji-shi, Tokyo, JAPAN, June 2012)

▲The weevil which kicked the mother butterfly

▲The egg was mostly covered with tiny hair-like dusts on the twig

[Movie File] Privet Tailless Blue Hairstreak (Artopoetes pryeri)

[Movie File] Privet Tailless Blue Hairstreak (Artopoetes pryeri)　

    Artopoetes pryeri is known from China, Russia, Korea and Japan. The distribution is limited to the countries which surround Japan Sea. The appearance is quite unique as it looks like Blues rather than Zephyrus Hairstreaks. The larva feeds on Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium) and its allies.

   In Japan this species is not so rare and can be seen at the small hills near urban areas. It appears once in a year from late May to mid-June at low elevation, from early July to mid-August at high elevation.

   The author of this blog has a chance to visit nearby habitat a few days ago. This place is located in Kanagawa Prefecture next to Tokyo. This species is active in late afternoon. The population in this place is quite large and it sometimes looks like White Butterflies (Pieris spp.). In addition, it shows fairly blackish markings. This kind of geographical variation is one of the characteristics of this species. Many butterfly enthusiasts in Japan are interested in collecting this species from various localities.

(Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa, June 2012)

▲Blackish form from Kanagawa Prefecture

[Above:normal, Below:aberrant]

（after Butterflies No.3）

Our journal, Butterflies (Teinopalpus) No.60 has been published!

Our journal, Butterflies (Teinopalpus) No.60 has been published!

   Our journal Butterflies (Teinopalpus) has just been published this week. In this new volume No.60, a noteworthy paper is included.

Harada, M., Karma Wangdi, et al., 2012. Rediscovery of Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory, Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae): morphology and biology.

   This is the first comprehensive report of the most mysterious swallowtail in the world. Many researchers have been seeking this species just like a “holy grail”. Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis ludlowi) was finally re-discovered by Mr. Karma Wangdi, a Bhutanese researcher, one of the authors after 80-year absence in 2009. Our society had a joint research with Bhutanese team last summer and unveiled the biology of this species. The comparison of the morphological features with its allies, the detailed ecological observations such as the egg-laying behavior or the larva, almost all information is described for the first time.

   Many butterfly enthusiasts must be interested in this precious paper. Don’t miss it!!

   This issue is available for non-members. Those who would like to get the copy, please send e-mail to the following address.

One copy is 40 US$ (including the international postal fee)

[Contact] welcome_scripts@yahoo.co.jp

Index of No. 60 (Click to see the details)

Eisner's Visit to Japan

Eisner's Visit to Japan

--- A story of a world-famous entomologist and his friendship with Japanese colleagues

▲The specimen of  Parnassius citrinarius collected by C. Eisner

 (preserved in RIEB)

▲Data label of the above specimen (preserved in RIEB)

   On a sunny day of early summer in 1961, an entomologist whose name was well known all over the world visited Mie Prefecture, western Japan. The entomologist was Mr. Curt Eisner (1890-1981), a prosperous Jewish business man and earnest butterfly enthusiast focusing on Parnassius. He was considered the leading world authority on parnassian butterflies, which he collected and of which he named many. His “Parnassiana Nova” series are still important literature. His huge collection of Parnassius is now stored in the Rijksmuseum van Naturlijke Historie in Leiden, Netherlands.

   Throughout his life, he exchanged specimens with many overseas colleagues including Japanese. In this process, he learned that there is an interesting Parnassius species in Japan. The species, Japanese Clouded Apollo (Parnassius citirinarius) is quite unique in its wing markings because it does not have any red or blue spots as many other Parnassius species do. By studying the materials which he obtained from Japanese colleagues, he described  a new subspecies of Parnassius citirinarius, ssp. janine in 1959. (cf. p161-162 in the link) This subspecies was named after his niece. Now this subspecies is treated as a synonym of nominotypical subspecies.

   Through this work, he got interested in this species and planned to visit Japan and collect it by himself. His plan was carried out in May 1961. He was already over 70 but climbed up mountains to get the species. Thanks to the assistance from Japanese colleagues, he succeeded in collecting enough specimens.

▲Mr. Curt Eisner collecting at Mt. Fujiwara-dake, Mie Pref. JAPAN [May, 1961](preserved in RIEB)

   At RIEB (The Research Institute of Evolutionary Biology) where our secretariat is housed, there are some specimens from Eisner’s collection together with his photos and letters. Those references remind us of his friendship with Japanese colleagues.

▲Thank you letter sent from Mr. Eisner after his return home (preserved in RIEB)

Mr. NAKAMURA Makoto who was one of Eisner's Japanese friends wrote an short essay on his memory of Eisner in our journal. (sorry text is in Japanese only)

Nakamura, M., 2003. My memory of Mr. Eisner's visit to Japan. Butterflies 36: 53-56.

[Movie File] Indian Awlking (Choaspes benjaminii)

   Indian Awlking (Choaspes benjaminii) is an unmistakable butterfly because of its unique wing color. In Japan no skippers show such a vivid green except this species. Relatively tropical species and scarce in the northern part of its range. It appears twice in most places, although more then three times in southern islands. Males tend to patrol in the open area near the forest, claming their territory by flying circle without perching and attacking others coming into the territory. This species are often found on flowers or animal droppings especially at the dawn or in the evening.

(Ootsuki-shi, Yamanashi, JAPAN, May 2012)

   Genus Choaspes contains six species from India to Papua New Guinea. All the species look similar each other and difficult to identify. Among these six species, Choaspes illuensis is fairly peculiar in its wing patterns. This magnificent and very rare species is known from Ceram island and Papua New Guinea.

▲Choaspes illuensis male UN(Ceram Island, Indonesia)
[Courtesy of Mr. UEHARA Jiro]

If you want to learn Genus Choaspes further, the following paper in our journal is very useful.

TSUKIYAMA, H. 1992. Genus Choaspes Moore, a review (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) --- with illustrations of all taxa and new information up to 1991. Butterflies 2: 26-31.

Extinct? A Danaid Butterfly endemic to Marianas

   Guam or Saipan is now quite familiar to Japanese as a tourist resort island. Before WWII, these islands belong to Mariana were Japanese colonies. An endemic Danaid butterfly has been recorded from these islands.

 ▲Map of Mariana Islands (after Wikipedia)

 ▲View of eastern coast of Guam

▲Mariana Brown Crow (Euploea eleutho), Rota island, Mariana Islands, collected in 1946

(preserved in University of Guam)

      The species is Mariana Brown Crow (Euploea eleutho). Some researchers treat this species as a subspecies of Euploea algea. Small-sized and rather chic markings with white spots on blackish wings. No record has been obtained since 1946 in Guam and Rota. The last record was 1971 from Alamagan and Anatahan islands which are located in north of Saipan. We do hope this species is still flying in the jungles of some Mariana islands.

   This species is mentioned with other extinct or threatened Danaid butterflies in Asia-Pacific area in the following paper.

Morishita, K., 2008. Euploea phaenareta juvia, an extinct Taiwan race, and some vulnerable danaid butterflies in Asia-Pacific area. Butterflies (Teinopalpus). 49: 82-85