September is a great month to watch butterflies and other insects on flowers in rural Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Between August 31 and September 21, 2017, I photographed ten species and saw several others while cycling in the countryside near my home.
Old World swallowtail butterflies (Papilio machaon), キアゲハ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CityOld World swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon, キアゲハ) on a cosmos flower behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CityOld World swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon, キアゲハ) on Physostegia virginiana flowers (obedience, ハナトラノオ [花虎の尾]) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CityOld World swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon, キアゲハ) on Physostegia virginiana flowers (obedience, ハナトラノオ [花虎の尾]) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu City
Asian swallowtail butterfly (Papilio xuthus, アゲハチョウ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityAsian swallowtail butterfly (Papilio xuthus, アゲハチョウ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityAsian swallowtail butterfly (Papilio xuthus, アゲハチョウ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto City
Indian fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius) – ツマグロヒョウモン
Indian fritillary butterfly (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius, ツマグロヒョウモン) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CityIndian fritillary butterfly (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius, ツマグロヒョウモン) in Anyoji, Ritto City, near Ritto Nature Center (栗東自然観察の森)Indian fritillary butterfly female (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius, ツマグロヒョウモン) near the woods in Yasugawa Athletic Park in Ritto City 野洲川運動公園Indian fritillary butterfly female (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius, ツマグロヒョウモン) along the Yasugawa riverbank in Moriyama CityIndian fritillary butterflies (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius, ツマグロヒョウモン) mating near the woods in Yasugawa Athletic Park in Ritto City 野洲川運動公園. The more colorful female is on the left.
Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui, ヒメアカタテハ) on a cosmos flower behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu City, with Mikamiyama (三上山) in the backgroundPainted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui, ヒメアカタテハ) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CityPainted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui, ヒメアカタテハ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityPainted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui, ヒメアカタテハ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto City
Eastern pale clouded yellow (Colias erate poliographys) – モンキチョウ
Eastern pale clouded yellow butterfly (Colias erate poliographys, モンキチョウ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityEastern pale clouded yellow butterfly (Colias erate poliographys, モンキチョウ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityEastern pale clouded yellow butterfly (Colias erate poliographys,モンキチョウ) on a sunflower behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu City
Common bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon nipponum) アオスジアゲハ
Common bluebottle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon nipponum, アオスジアゲハ) on the path along Oyamakawa in Omifuji, Yasu CityCommon bluebottle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon nipponum, アオスジアゲハ) on the path along Oyamakawa in Omifuji, Yasu City
Small white butterfly (Pieris rapae, モンシロチョウ) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CitySmall white butterfly (Pieris rapae, モンシロチョウ) on Allium tuberosum flowers (ニラ, 韮) behind Sakura Ryokuchi Park in Minamizakura, Yasu CitySmall white butterfly (Pieris rapae, モンシロチョウ) [?] along the Yasugawa riverbank in Moriyama City
Straight swift butterfly (Parnara guttata guttata, イチモンジセセリ) at the ground golf course near the JR train tracks in Moriyama CityCommon straight swift butterfly (Parnara guttata guttata, イチモンジセセリ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto CityCommon straight swift butterfly (Parnara guttata guttata, イチモンジセセリ) on a zinnia flower (Zinnia elegans, ヒャクニチソウ, 百日草) along Hayamagawa (葉山川) in Rokujizo, Ritto City
Spangle [butterfly] (Papilio protenor, クロアゲハ) on red spider lilies (lycoris radiata, 彼岸花) along an irrigation canal in Kamitoyama, Ritto CitySpangle [butterfly] (Papilio protenor, クロアゲハ) on red spider lilies (lycoris radiata, 彼岸花) along an irrigation canal in Kamitoyama, Ritto CitySpangle [butterfly] (Papilio protenor, クロアゲハ) on red spider lilies (lycoris radiata, 彼岸花) along an irrigation canal in Kamitoyama, Ritto City
Please let me know if you see errors in the photo captions. I have only recently learned the names of some butterflies and flowers shown here.
Most photos were shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II camera and an M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO lens with a 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14. Usually I shoot with Auto-ISO in shutter priority mode. For wide-angle and medium shots I use a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX9 (Japanese-only version of LX10/LX15).
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto Notre Dame University (1977-2020). Since 1980 I have lived in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where I enjoy outdoor activities, especially photography, hiking, and cycling.
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