[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)