[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)