GIFU BUTTERFLY

[Kuniomi Matsumoto]

Hi Nathan,

The scientific name for GIFU BUTTERFLY is Luehdorfia japonica. 
The butterfly was first discovered in Gifu prefecture in 1883( and
described by J.H.Leech in 1889), hence its Japanese name is
Gifu-cho(cho means "butterfly" in Japanese). 

L. japonica is restricted to Honshu Island(the main island), and is 
getting very scarce due to habitat destruction. L. japonica 
is one of the most poplar butterflies among butterfly enthusiast
here, so in some area over collecting might have contributed
to decline of the population to some extent in the past.  

What is special about this Hakuba(the site for super G and
Large Hill and Normal Hill jumping) population is that 
a very unique form(or aberration) occurs to about 10%? of 
the Gifu-cho there. The form is called Yellow Band in Japanese. 
All the four wing are bordered with yellow margin instead of 
usual yellow and black or just black margin. So the name 
Yellow Band is not really proper. The underside of the 
wings is coated with cream colored scales. It is really beautiful. 

The butterfly has been protected by a local law. But here again 
economy(in this case Olympic) comes before butterflies. Yes, 
they transplanted its food plant Heterotropa(Asarum) faurei 
or Miyama Aoi in Japanese. I hope the effort will make a new 
home for Gifu-cho. But I cannot be so optimistic since the 
distribution of the butterfly is much more restricted compared 
to that of potential food plants, Heterotropa sp. 

I will continue to report what is happening to Gifu-cho in 
Hakuba.

Cheers,
Kuni

Kuniomi Matsumoto
3-3-5-1210 Hikarigaoka,
Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0072 
JAPAN
E-mail: langprac at iac.co.jp
tel./fax 3938-8400