Wednesday 26 September 2007

Japanese Marbled Emperor* (Hestina japonica)

OTHER NAMES* This species does not have an English name, therefore, this name is speculative based on its Latin and Japanese names.
Latin Etymology: Hestina (?) japonica ("of Japan")
Adult Japanese Marbled Emperor (subspecies H. j. japonica) at Osaka Castle, Osaka, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: Hestina japonica japonica
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 60-80mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This large species is another one that is found in fairly everyday settings in Japan, yet is as large as the largest British species.  I saw this species in the park around Osaka Castle where they were fairly numerous. They seem to enjoy patrolling up and down tree trunks, possibly feeding on sap.  I've been able to find very little out about this species, presumably if I could read Japanese as a common species there there would be more information on it.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Hestina
SUBSPECIES: H. j. japonica, H. j. seoki

- Sighting Locations -
JAPAN - Japaneseゴマダラチョウ  /  Gomadarachou ("Marbled Emperor")
Common resident seen in Summer
 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Several seen around Osaka 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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