[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)