Bugs of Japan

Information on Japan's arthropoda in English

[bugsofjapan]

Hello. Thank you for your amazing job.

I witnessed this green « moth »? In Ome, Tokyo.

Looks like ヒロヘリアオイラガ but I’m not quite sure.

Thank you for your expertise.

______________________________________

Good morning! Thanks for taking the time to submit a moth to my blog.

  It looks like the moth you submitted is a lovely ‘Ashibuto-Chizumon-Aoshaku’ アシブトチズモンアオシャク, or Agathia visenda curvifiniens. It is in the Geometridae family. Reference pic below:

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~satoyama/asibutotizumonaoshaku.html http://jpmoth.org/Geometridae/Geometrinae/Agathia_visenda_curvifiniens.html They have two flights per year, in April-May and July-August, and are distributed across Honshu, Shikoku,  Kyushu, China, Taiwan, and Korea. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on host plants for the caterpillars, but it seems they are regularly seen and are listed as non-threatened.

[bugsofjapan]

hi! i was really really curious what websites/books/etc you use for identification and if you knew where I could find a longer or more complete list of specifically endemic Japanese beetles? thank you and I love the blog!

Good morning!

I am not an expert (sadly), just an enthusiastic amateur, so my identifications are best for common bugs-- because there just aren't a ton of resources about Japanese arthropoda in English, it can be a real slog to even find out what a particular insect is even called in English or Japanese. To that end, I use a variety of Japanese blogs, Wikipedia, and one great Japanese butterfly book. I'm happy to share my resources!

Above: "日本のチョウ” Field Guide to Butterflies.

Beetles (Koganemushi) - Same website, other insects here

Wasps (other insects found at links at top)

Caterpillars

Arachnids (photo blog)

Bug Dictionary

Butterflies (Kobayashi Mochimitsu's photos, with great descriptions in English)

Insects Organized by Family

Shield Bugs

Flies (other insects at top link)

Longhorn beetles

Moths - with Latin names

Sphingidae (Moths)

Caterpillars

And of course, when all else fails, ask the good people at r/whatsthisbug on Reddit. There are a lot of actual experts there and they're amazing at what they do!

[bugsofjapan]

Good morning!

This looks like you’ve found another example of the mind-blowing larvae of the Lobster Moth Caterpillar -- see other submission here: https://bugsofjapan.tumblr.com/post/150760004627/weird-bug

There’s a short Youtube video here of a guy raising them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcE2Va1INw

These caterpillars break all the rules, don’t they?  Horrible-looking long spindly legs, big head on a weird neck, end of the abdomen held high like a scorpion, and the normally stubby claspers evolved into long structures, apparently for no reason! However, Wikipedia gives us a hint about a potential benefit for evolving like this: “If the larva is disturbed during this period it wriggles about violently in the same manner as an injured ant.” 

These moths are fairly widely distributed across the entire Paleoarctic realm and the caterpillars feed on maples, chestnuts, and oak leaves, among a few others. 

[bugsofjapan]

“Found in a Tokyo school. My students were keen to identify it.”

Good evening!

Thanks for your submission to Bugs of Japan. The bug you sent is clearly a Stink Bug (kamemushi), but there are several varieties in Japan and they are all a little bit different. Kame-mushi are a little bit special when we say "bugs" because they are actually True Bugs (hemiptera), which also includes cicadas, aphids and bedbugs, and a distinguishing feature is that they have piercing/sucking mouthparts (like a straw) in both their baby (nymph) and adult forms.

The particular Stink Bug you've sent appears to be a "Kimadara Kamemushi" (see comparison photos here https://ameblo.jp/murmecophaga/entry-12618123641.html ), Erthesina fullo. (English name: yellow-spotted stink bug or yellow marmorated stink bug.)  

They are found in East and Southeast Asia and eat plant juices! Thanks for your submission and have a good summer!

[bugsofjapan]

“Found this cluster of insects. They were on top of what looked like a patch of silver eggs. I’m in Okinawa and they were on my patio closet door. “-CW

Good morning! Sorry for the delay, I haven’t been keeping up with this blog very often.

My best guess is - you have stink bugs! (カメムシ, Kamemushi) Their name is more respectful in Japanese- “Turtle bug”. 

Most stink bugs feed on the juices of plants, though some species eat other insects, such as caterpillars. The adults are commonly seen in cities during the late summer, and are slow-moving, but will release a bitter smell if handled or damaged-- however they do not bite people or pets. 

Comparison photo on this blog: http://tokada.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-4049.html

[bugsofjapan]

Hi - could you help me identify this caterpillar? It was on my lime tree. I’m in Yamaguchi-ken.

Hello! Thanks for your submission! You’ve found my all-time favorite bug of Japan and the one on my header image, a Papilio xuthus , Chinese Yellow Swallowtail (called “Ageha” or “Nami-ageha”). 

You can see other posts I’ve made about these iconic and beautiful butterflies on my blog here: https://bugsofjapan.tumblr.com/tagged/papilio_xuthus This particular caterpillar is going to be a pupa within 5-10 days depending on the weather temperature. It’s nearly impossible to tell the sex of a caterpillar, but I had a system I was working on when raising these, judging by the shape of the abdomen when they were fully grown as caterpillars before they became a chrysalis-- however yours is not very far into his fifth “instar” (shed skin stage as a larva) judging by the size of his face (large) to his body (kind of small and wrinkly). He will get QUITE a bit bigger, probably as big as your pinky finger before becoming a chrysalis! The caterpillars of Papilio xuthus can ONLY feed on plants in the citrus family (including Rue), but Japan is chock-full of citrus trees so they are commonly seen in suburban areas. They will eat a LOT of leaves at this stage, but they are a caterpillar for only 5-10 more days before becoming a butterfly, and then going on to be a wonderful pollinator in the neighborhood. Your caterpillar, if he grows up, will live as a butterfly all the way until the first frost when he will freeze and die. However, any of his children that have become a pupa will stay as a pupa over winter, even in freezing temperatures, and emerge in the spring time as the first ‘flight’ of Ageha in April. 

[bugsofjapan]

“Sorry the picture is not really good. These bugs live in the floor, in the tatami or maybe in the wood. They are about 1cm in size and their color is a grayish gold. They come out when it’s quiet or when it’s dark. I would like to know what they are and if they are harmless or not. Thank you very much for your time.

-N”

Thanks for your submission! The picture you sent is a little bit grainy, but it looks like what you have is a Silverfish, which often live in older buildings. They are harmless little insects and do not bite or spread disease, but eat a variety of carbohydrates-- paper, wallpaper glue, book glue, or linen, especially papers that are left a long time on a floor or in a closet. If you want to protect your old stored books, it's a good idea to keep them in a plastic case instead of a cardboard box.They are often seen in the warm months in Japan when it is humid, and will disappear in the winter. Small spiders such as jumping spiders will hunt silverfish and keep the population down. Thanks for your submission and have a good autumn!

[bugsofjapan]

Hi, the caterpillar in the picture at the home page of the blog. What type of caterpillar is that? Looks like a green layered caterpillar with eyes connected by a band.

The caterpillar on the banner is a Chinese Yellow Swallowtail, my favorite species Papilio xuthus. The ‘eyes’ you are seeing are just spots on his back that will fool birds into pinching the wrong place!

[bugsofjapan]

Hello, I found this bug flying around near Osaka. I really want to know what it is, I’m guessing it’s some species of bumblebee?? It looks like a fuzzy yellow flying shrimp. Thanks in advance!

[bugsofjapan]

Hi! I was wondering if you would have any idea what the insect I saw was. Unfortunately I don't have a picture. It was very large. Similar to a house sparrow in size. Mostly a very dark black. Possible hint of red on the body. Flight pattern was very similar to a butterfly but much faster. A little erratic looking. Very "fluttery" wings. Seen in Tokyo. Thank you!

Hello Anon! Very dark black sounds like a butterfly to me indeed, and there are quite a few butterflies and moths that have ‘surprise’ coloring on the underwings that’s only shown in flight or when they are startled by a predator--they can flash these eyespots or bright colors to scare a bird away.  There are some BIG butterflies in Japan, and some are FAST. Like REAL FAST. Like the Great Mormon butterfly (Papilio memnon) can zoom along a street at 30 feet in the air about as fast as a car, and you just think “was that a HUGE butterfly or a really weird bird??”

Papilio protenor:

Byasa alcinous

There are many other large moths and butterflies in Japan! If you find any please let me know!

[bugsofjapan]

“Hello, I came across this tumblr, and would like some help identifying this particular bug.

Just some background information: I currently sell drinks out here in West Tokyo (Tachikawa), and generally work with a lot of sugar. My shop is also brightly lit, with neon lights and lots of LEDs. Some weeks ago, I’ve spotted a few of these bugs hanging around my neon lights and LEDs. Although it was fine at the start, starting last week there were more and more of them flying around, so I checked around and discovered a whole cluster of them hidden a section in my shop between the ceiling and a partition where I’ve got a strip of LEDs, and hosed down the whole area with some bug spray. However, it didn’t even take a day for a few of them to start flying around again. I plan to call an exterminator to deal with this, but I would also like to know just what bug is this so I could read up on it.  

It’s got a long black body, with hairy feelers, long legs, flies, and is usually found near or perched on light sources.” Hello! Thanks for the submission!  With the help of the bug experts on Reddit, they believe your insect is a Non-Biting Midge. As the name implies, they look a bit like mosquitoes but do not bite, are attracted to lights, and are seasonal. Mostly they are a nuisance. Here's a useful PDF about their behavior: https://www.pub.gov.sg/Documents/Midge%20webpage%20guide%20PDF.pdf 

Non-Biting Midge

Unfortunately, it seems that pesticides offer only temporary control of the adults as these are water-breeding insects (and delicious members of the food chain), but the good news is that they don't last long, and the swarms will disperse without causing damage to people or property. I hope they aren't causing too much trouble for you and your shop! Thanks again for your submission and have a good spring :)

[bugsofjapan]

“Found this skin in my wardrobe, on top of a piece of clothing. There was a live bug too: it moved relatively quickly in the style of a millipede or silverfish. What is it? And do I need to get rid of them?

Thank you very much for your help!

-H.J.“

Based on that photo I think it's a Black Carpet Beetle larva or shed, comparison photos here: http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2014/11/black-carpet-beetles-attagenus-spp.html 

Weirdly enough, I couldn’t find much information on them in Japanese at all, I wonder if they are widely known?

These are quite common across Japan especially in older apartment buildings.The good news is that they are largely harmless, the larvae feed on dust (shed hair and dead skin dust, etc), though in large numbers the larvae's shed hairs can cause irritation on the skin, and they may eat organic things like wool or paper. They are easy to control with deep cleaning (closet corners etc. are a favorite haunt) though they are one of those insects that live closely with humans and for the most part, remain undetected and rarely cause a real problem. I see them individually once in a while, but I think my jumping spider population deals with them ;)

[bugsofjapan]

(Submitted without caption) Hello! Thanks for the submission! You’ve found a DO NOT TOUCH tussock moth caterpillar: these have STINGING HAIRS that will cause rashes or painful reactions on exposed skin. This one appears to be Calliteara pudibunda, the Pale Tussock Moth (a delightful Latin name for a spiky fellow). https://jp.123rf.com/photo_88560862_%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AD%E3%81%AE%E8%B5%A4%E3%81%84%E5%B0%BE-calliteara-pudibunda-%E7%B7%91%E3%81%AE%E8%91%89%E3%81%AE%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%AB%E9%BB%84%E8%89%B2%E3%81%AE%E6%AF%9B%E8%99%AB%E3%80%81%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%81%AE%E7%9C%BA%E3%82%81.html The adults are pretty simple, light grayish. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliteara_pudibunda This moth is found across the world in Europe, Russia, China, Korea and Japan and other places. The caterpillars feed on trees including oak, willow and birch. Thanks again!

[bugsofjapan]

“Four winged dragon fly of slme sort near Wazuka! Beautiful and slow moving…” Hello, thanks for the submission! This appears to be a beautiful black damselfly, probably Calopteryx atrata! It also seems to be a lovely female. Males have a distinct blue-green sheen and a thinner abdomen. https://www.google.com/amp/s/tombo2009.exblog.jp/amp/10778146/ These predatory insects eat flies, mosquitoes and gnats. Thanks again for the submission and feel free to submit more insects any time. :)

[bugsofjapan]

Hello. Do you have any information about stick insects in Japan?

This is about all the information I have on Phasmids in Japan, and there aren’t many to choose from ;)Left to right: Toge-Nanafushi, Tobi-Nanafushi, Nanafushi (Phraortes elongatus), Eda-NanafushiNot pictured: The Okinawan Stick Insect (Okinawa-Nanafushi or Amami-Nanafushi)

Stick insects can get very robust!

Source ... but they only eat leaves. They are often kept as pets! They especially like to eat oak leaves.Further reading (Japan Times, English)

[bugsofjapan]

Ladybug larva on Camellia japonica, 5/5/2016

Ladybug larvae are predators just like in their adult forms, but they look really WEIRD as babies, as seen above-- long legged, long-abdomen’d, with some spiky bits that looks nothing like the handsome beetles they will become. Many beetle larvae are soft and buried underground, but not ladybugs. They are ready to hunt asap. If you see one of these weird alien things on your tree, just keep an eye on it and soon you’ll have your very own ladybug!

[bugsofjapan]

Argiope amoena, (Kogane-gumo) (”Golden Spider”)

“In North America, Argiope aurantia is commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, zipper spider, corn spider, or writing spider, because of the similarity of the web stabilimenta to writing.The East Asian species Argiope amoena is known in Japan as kogane-gumo. In the Philippines, they are known as gagambang ekis ("X spider"), and gagambang pari ("priest spider", due to the spider's body resembling a priest's head with a mitre). The average orb web is practically invisible, and it is easy to blunder into one and end up covered with a sticky web. The visible pattern of banded silk made by Argiope is pure white, and some species make an "X" form, or a zigzag type of web (often with a hollow centre). The spider then aligns one pair of its legs with each of the four lines in the hollow "X", making a complete "X" of white lines with a very eye-catching spider forming its centre.The zigzag patterns, called stabilimenta, reflect UV light.[3] They have been shown to play a role in attracting prey to the web, and possibly in preventing its destruction by large animals. The centres of their large webs are often just under 1 metre above the ground, so they are too low for anything much larger than a rabbit to walk under. The overtness of the spider and its web thus has been speculated to prevent larger creatures from accidentally destroying the web and possibly crushing the spider underfoot.“ --Wikipedia

These garden spiders can grow to intimidating size (as shown above) and can spin webs that span a creek, sidewalk, or garden path, which is as startling as you may imagine for both the spider and the human trying to traverse the sidewalk. However, the Kogane-gumo is a lovely and helpful predator friend who will pick her territory and stick to it, not wanting to run across anybody’s bed at night like her cousin the cheeky Huntsman. 

Kogane-gumo are most often found in the summer time after hatching, where they will spread away from their hatching site and set up little webs along the same stretch of road or shrubbery and then grow fat during the warm season.

Further reading: Link