Family LYCAENIDAE (2/3)

Last Updated: January 8, 2003


Panchala ganesa (Moor, [1858])

Japanese name: Ruhmisu shijimi
English name:
This species is thought to be rather rare. However sometimes they can be found in large number. Hibernates in the form of adult butterfly.
Japanese name "Ruhmisu" was named after Mr. Loomis who came to Japan in 1872 as a missionary and found this butterfly.

Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO37M.JPG (39KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO39M.JPG (35KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO41M.JPG (39KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO42L.JPG (59KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO43M.JPG (39KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO44M.JPG (42KB)
Kamogawa-shi, Chiba.
November 18, 2000.

Photo by T. Kumon. T00NO45M.JPG (47KB)


Narathura japonica (Murray, 1875)

Japanese name: Murasaki shijimi
English name:
Habitats of this species are Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
This butterfly has purple colour (murasaki in Japanese) on upperside of its wings.
Hibernates in the form of adult butterfly.

Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
October 7, 2000.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T00OC23M.JPG (57KB)
Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
October 7, 2000.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T00OC24M.JPG (45KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
November 15, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98NO22M.JPG (22KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
November 15, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98NO27M.JPG (34KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
November 15, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98NO28M.JPG (32KB)
Oiso-machi, Kanagawa.
October 25, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98OC17M.JPG (39KB)
Uenohara-cho, Yamanashi.
July 5, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97JL46M.JPG (15KB)
Okura-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
September 16, 1996.

Photo by T. Kumon. T96SP67M.JPG (14KB)


Narathura bazalus (Hewitson, 1862)

Japanese name: Murasaki tsubame
English name:
Outside of Japan this species can be found from Himalaya to Taiwan.
"Tsubame" means "swallow".

Yamane-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 12, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98AUA6M.JPG (28KB)
Yamane-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 12, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98AUA7M.JPG (28KB)
Yamane-cho, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 12, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98AUA8M.JPG (25KB)


Strymonidia mera (Janson, 1877)

Japanese name: Miyama-karasu shijimi
English name:
This species can be found only in Japan. Single brooded.
"Karasu" in Japanese name means crow. "Miyama" means the depth of mountains.

Kamikuisshiki-mura, Nishiyatsushiro-gun, Yamanashi.
July 31, 1999.

Photo by T. Kumon. T99JLE2M.JPG (26KB)
Kamikuisshiki-mura, Nishiyatsushiro-gun, Yamanashi.
July 31, 1999.

Photo by T. Kumon. T99JLE5M.JPG (31KB)
Kamikuisshiki-mura, Nishiyatsushiro-gun, Yamanashi.
July 31, 1999.

Photo by T. Kumon. T99JLJ9M.JPG (24KB)
Sutama-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi.
June 20, 1998.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98JN01M.JPG (21KB)
Sutama-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi.
June 20, 1998.
Too far.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98JN02M.JPG (25KB)


Rapala arata (Bremer, 1861)

Japanese name: Torafu shijimi
English name:
This butterfly occurs in eastern Asia.
"Torafu" indicates tiger pattern.

Ashiyasu-mura, Nakakoma-gun,Yamanashi.
May 30, 1999.
Spring form
Photo by T. Kumon. T99MY57M.JPG (48KB)
Mt.Haruna, Gunma-gun, Gunma.
August 2, 1997.

Photo by T. Kumon. T97AU15M.JPG (19KB)


Callophrys ferra (Butler, 1866)

Japanese name: Kotsubame
English name:
This species occurs in Japan and Korean Peninsula.
Single-brooded and can be seen only in spring.
As this butterfly is tiny and blackish, it is rather difficult to keep in sight.
"Ko" means small. "Tsubame" means swallow.

Minoto, Chino-shi, Nagano.
May 18, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97MY43M.JPG (17KB)
Minoto, Chino-shi, Nagano.
May 18, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97MY69M.JPG (27KB)
Minoto, Chino-shi, Nagano.
May 18, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97MY70M.JPG (26KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP73M.JPG (32KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP75M.JPG (23KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP77M.JPG (28KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP78M.JPG (23KB)


Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)

Japanese name: Beni shijimi
English name: Small copper (American copper)
Common in Japan. We can see this butterfly from spring to fall.
"Beni" in Japanese name means red color.

 Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
April 19, 1998.
Spring form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98AP20M.JPG (19KB)
 Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
April 19, 1998.
An egg.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98AP30M.JPG (10KB)
 Sekido, Tama-shi, Tokyo.
May 2, 1998.
Spring form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98MY28M.JPG (28KB)
Tajima, Urawa-shi, Saitama.
June 14, 1997.
Spring form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97JN60M.JPG (29KB)
Tajima, Urawa-shi, Saitama.
June 21, 1997.
Spring form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97JN71M.JPG (32KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP79M.JPG (27KB)
Takabatake, Tsuru-shi, Yamanashi.
April 26, 1997.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97AP80M.JPG (30KB)
Kashiwai, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba.
August 11, 1996.
Summer form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T96AU42M.JPG (12KB)
Kashiwai, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba.
August 11, 1996.
Summer form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T96AU43M.JPG (20KB)
Kashiwai, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba.
August 11, 1996.
Summer form.
Photo by T. Kumon. T96AU44M.JPG (12KB)


Taraka hamada (H.Druce, 1875)

Japanese name: Goishi-shijimi
English name:
This butterfly occurs mainly in the Eastern Asia.
Larva of this species is carnivorous and feeds on wooly aphids.
"Goishi" means "'go' stones".

Minoto, Chino-shi, Nagano.
August 1, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98AU01M.JPG (18KB)
Minoto, Chino-shi, Nagano.
August 1, 1998.

Photo by T. Kumon. T98AU02M.JPG (17KB)


Niphanda fusca (Bremer & Grey, 1852)

Japanese name: Kuro-shijimi
English name:
Distributed in China, Korea and Japan.
"Kuro" means "black".

Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla4m.jpg (40KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla5m.jpg (40KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla6m.jpg (44KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla7m.jpg (38KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla8m.jpg (42KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jla9m.jpg (34KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb0m.jpg (43KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb1m.jpg (38KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb2m.jpg (53KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb3m.jpg (26KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.

Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb4m.jpg (31KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.

Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb5m.jpg (40KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb6m.jpg (46KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb7m.jpg (41KB)
Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka.
July 27, 2002.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. t02jlb9m.jpg (44KB)


Curetis acuta Moore, 1877

Japanese name: Uragin shijimi
English name:
This species occurs from the central to the eastern Asia.
Overwinters in the form of adult butterflies. However around Tokyo area probably most butterflies of this species will not survive until spring.
Males have red marks on the upperside of the wings, while females have white marks.
"Uragin" indicates that the underside of the wings have silver color.

Okuramachi, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 15, 1999.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T99AU69M.JPG (54KB)
Okuramachi, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 15, 1999.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T99AU72M.JPG (36KB)
Okuramachi, Niihama-shi, Ehime.
August 15, 1999.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T99AU98M.JPG (42KB)
Ohyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
November 14, 1998.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98NO06M.JPG (20KB)
Ohyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
November 14, 1998.
Female.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98NO12M.JPG (24KB)
Oiso-machi, Kanagawa.
October 25, 1998.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T98OC23M.JPG (58KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
October 18, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97OC46M.JPG (25KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
October 18, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97OC48M.JPG (38KB)
Kurokawa, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa.
October 18, 1997.
Male.
Photo by T. Kumon. T97OC51M.JPG (34KB)