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

[Movie File] Diana Forester (Lethe diana)

   Lethe diana is fairly common throughout Japan except southernmost islands. It is so common that few butterfly enthusiasts pay much attention to this species, however it has its own chic beauty. Sometimes this species seems to be friendly because it often perches on our arms or even faces to suck sweat. Very striking subspecies is known from Mikura-jima (Mikura Island) in Izu-shoto southern Tokyo. This subspecies ssp. mikuraensis (see below) is recognized by its smaller ocelli. It has evolved in a small isolated island.

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

▲Lethe diana mikuraensis (Mikura island, Tokyo)

[Movie File] Japanese Clouded Apollo (Parnassius citrinarius)

 

   Parnassius citrinarius is rather common in Japan. It appears once in spring chiefly from April to May. In Japan three Parnassius species are found. Among them this species has the largest distribution from Hokkaido to Honshu, Shikoku. It can be seen from small hill near town to high mountains. It flies gracefully near the ground and often visits various flowers.

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

[Movie File] Japanese Luehdorfia (Luehdorfia japonica)

 

   Luehdorfia japonica is definitely one of the most popular butterflies among Japanese butterfly lovers. This endemic swallowtail is blessed with an amazing beauty both butterfly itself and its habitat. This butterfly is only seen for a short period in early spring. At that time various flowers start to bloom and this butterfly likes to visit them. For Japanese butterfly lovers it is a great joy to go out in the field and watch this butterfly after a lengthy and boring winter.

                                 (Uonuma-shi, Niigata, JAPAN, May 2012)

[Movie File] The Labyrinth (Neope niphonica kiyosumiensis)

  
   This sub-species of Neope niphonica was described by Mr. Mayumi Takahashi who is a well-known expert on the study of Asian Satyridae. The distribution is confined to Boso Peninsula, Kanto district, central Japan. Boso Peninsula was once an isolated island by sea. This population is thought to have been isolated from nominotypical subspecies when Boso Peninsula became the “island”. Similar example is found in Ussuriana stygiana whose population in Boso Peninsula has distinct wing markings.

(Ichihara-shi, Chiba, JAPAN, May 2012)

▲The distrubution of Neope niphonica (Shirozu, 2006)

   For more information, see the following links.

On Neope niphonica BUTLER (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in the Boso Peninsula, Central Japan, with description of a new subspecies (I)

   http://goo.gl/ZSooz

Notes on the Chromosomes of Neope niphonica kiyosumiensis TAKAHASHI et AOYAMA (Lepidoptera, Satyridae)

   http://goo.gl/YXop2

On Neope niphonica BUTLER (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in the Boso Peninsula, Central Japan, with description of a new subspecies (III)

  http://goo.gl/6zuIX

[Movie File] The Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

  When you enjoy watching or chasing butterflies in the field, The Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) always accompanies you. This butterfly flies swiftly on the ground but often settles on flowers or leaves. It is very easy to come close and take photos.

(Ichihara-shi, Chiba, JAPAN, May 2012)