[Movie File] Japanese Oakblue (Narathura japonica)

[Movie File] Japanese Oakblue (Narathura japonica)

Japanese Oakblue (Narathura japonica) is found from northern Honshu to Okinawa. Outside Japan it is confined to Taiwan and Korea. Adult butterfly hibernates and sometimes is seen active even in winter when it is warm. Larva feeds on various oaks (Quercus spp.). Recently this species is found at the center of Tokyo because the foodplants are abundant in parks and streets.

▲ Basking. To bend its body towards the ground

▲ Basking. Shiny Blue on its upperside is broader in males

(Hachiouji, Tokyo JAPAN Feb. 2013)

[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] 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] 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)

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)

[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）

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.

[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)