Suminagashi - Suminagashi (English spelling) constable

This butterfly belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Nymphalidae. In Japan, it is found from the northern part of Honshu to the Yaeyama region of the Nansei Islands, but is rare in all areas, especially in the northern Tohoku region. Outside of Japan, it is widely distributed in the Korean Peninsula, China, Taiwan, the Himalayan region, and the Malay Archipelago. Its wingspan is about 65 mm. Its Japanese name is based on the wing pattern, which is reminiscent of "suminagashi" (a type of game played in the imperial court in the past, in which ink is poured into running water and the changes in the pattern are enjoyed). There are no other butterflies similar to this species in Japan or neighboring areas. It usually appears twice a year (May-June and July-August), and flies to tree sap but not to flowers. The larvae feed on plants of the family Awabuki, Yamabiwa, Miyamahoso, Ryukyu Awabuki, and Yanbaru Awabuki. It spends the winter in the pupa state.

[Takashi Shiramizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱鱗翅(りんし)目タテハチョウ科に属するチョウ。日本では本州北部より南西諸島の八重山(やえやま)地方にまで分布するが、いずれの地方でも少なく、とくに東北地方北部ではまれとなる。国外では朝鮮半島、中国、台湾、ヒマラヤ地方、マレー諸島などに分布が広い。はねの開張65ミリメートル内外。和名は「墨流し」（昔の宮中などで行われた遊びの一種で、流水中に墨を流してその模様の変化を見て楽しむ）を思い起こさせるはねの模様に基づく。日本および近隣地域にはほかに本種に似たチョウはいない。普通1年に2回（5～6月、7～8月）発生し、樹液に飛来するが花にはこない。幼虫の食草はアワブキ、ヤマビワ、ミヤマホウソ、リュウキュウアワブキ、ヤンバルアワブキなどのアワブキ科植物。蛹(さなぎ)の状態で冬を越す。

［白水　隆］

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