Monthly Archives: June 2007

Clearwing Moth

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Nigel

When I first saw this tiny clearwing moth (sukashiba), I thought it was indeed a little wasp, but then I noticed it had a thick hairy body, so I realized what it was. Their defence mechanism is, of course, that … Continue reading →

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False blister beetle

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Nigel

The family Oedemeridae includes pollen-feeding beetles that are commonly called false blister beetles in English. The Japanese name kamikiri-modoki means false longhorn (kamikiri). I found this specimen on a vending machine at night (near Inunaki Dam in Fukuoka). Coleoptera: Oedemeridae … Continue reading →

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Saturniid Moth

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Nigel

I found this beautiful Saturniid moth (oomizuao) hanging onto the front of a vending machine at the side of a mountain road (near Inunaki Dam). Apparently the adults lack functioning mouthparts, so they only live for a couple of weeks. … Continue reading →

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Yellow Darkling Beetle

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Nigel

Most “darkling beetles” (tenebrionids) are black, as the name suggests, but this species (kiiro-kuchi-mushi) is bright yellow. I found this specimen among some dead leaves next to a vending machine at night (near Inunaki Dam). Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) Cteniopinus … Continue reading →

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Large click beetle

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Nigel

At around 25mm, this is one of the biggest species of click beetle in Japan. I found this one under a lighted signboard on a mountain road (near Inunaki Dam in Fukuoka). This specimen is a female. The male has … Continue reading →

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Large clearwing moths

Posted on June 16, 2007 by Nigel

This pair of clearwing moths (oomomobuto-sukashiba) were very difficult to access – on some vegetation in the middle of a stream and it was also getting dark – hence the terrible focus. Better JPmoth pictures here. Looking quite similar to … Continue reading →

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Large longhorn beetle

Posted on June 16, 2007 by Nigel

This quite large longhorn beetle flew into the tree above me while I was looking at a harvest mouse. It was about a meter above my head so I stretched up to take a photo, which disturbed it so it … Continue reading →

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Harvest mouse

Posted on June 16, 2007 by Nigel

This juvenile harvest mouse (kaya-nezumi) was sitting on a fern right next to the path. It posed for a couple of photos and then scrambled off into the undergrowth. Class: Mammalia; Order: Rodentia; Family: Muridae Micromys minutus = Harvest mouse (kaya-nezumi)

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Blue longhorn

Posted on June 10, 2007 by Nigel

Lots of these small blue longhorns (ramii-kamikiri) on plants at the side of a path next to rice fields. Coleoptera: Cerambycidae Paraglenea fortunei = ramii-kamikiri

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Yellow Tiger Longhorn

Posted on June 9, 2007 by Nigel

I went for a walk today in an area I don’t usually visit, near a huge waste disposal site of all places. Around the back of the site I found a valley with several small mikan (tangerine) orchards. Alongside the … Continue reading →

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