Small Copper (Lycaena Phlaeas) ベニシジミ（紅小灰蝶）

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The small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) flies from March to November in Japan, so it's not unusual to see them but it was my first time to see them, not one but two! Their orange forewings caught my eye. The butterfly's coloration changes slightly across seasons; spring broods are typically brighter while summer ones become darker and more muted. I can't say for sure but one of them seems like a spring brood and the other a summer one. Scroll down to see the two together in a photo.  

2026/7/12

2026/7/1

Asian bluetail (Ischnura asiatica) アジアイトトンボ（亜細亜糸蜻蛉）

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Something makes you always feel happy, doesn't it? One such thing for me is this dragonfly, the Asian bluetail (Ischnura asiatica). The bright blue tip of the tail is so beautiful. Asian bluetails are common in Japan but because of their thinness, you wouldn't be able to find them so easily.  

2026/8/20

Cherry Caterpillar (Phalera Flavescens) モンクロシャチホコ（紋黒鯱）

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I couldn't believe my eyes. These are so called cherry caterpillars, larvae of Phalera flavescens or a moth. They eat cherry leaves so voraciously from August to October that some trees cannot survive, which is understandable, because I saw several branches covered by the larvae😱!

But more surprisingly, they're edible and some even say they're yummy😱!!! When roasted over a fire, they are traditionally noted for a subtle, pleasant flavor and aroma reminiscent of cherry blossoms from feeding on cherry leaves. This leaves me with a question. Who tried them first? How courageous the person is for trying them!

I went there on the following day, finding all the branches with the larvae having been removed. I don't know whether to feel glad or sad...

2026/8/19

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum Odoratissimum) サンゴジュ（珊瑚樹）

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Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces clusters of white flowers from June to July and red berries from July to October in Japan and because of the color of the berries, the tree's Japanese name is "sango ju," which translates into "coral tree." The berries are beautiful but toxic. 

2026/8/16

Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina Communis) 露草（ツユクサ）

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The Asiatic dayflower (Commelina Communis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces blue flowers from June to September in Japan, which look to me like a mantis head. The flower has been appreciated in Japan, mentioned in the Man'yōshū (i.e., the oldest extant collection of Japanese poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after 759 during the Nara period. 

The plant's Japanese name is "tsuyukusa," which translates into "dew plant," because of its brief lifespan, like morning dew.

2026/8/17

Red Morning Glory (Ipomoea Coccinea) マルバルコウソウ（丸葉縷紅草）

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Red morning glories (Ipomoea coccinea) are native to North America, brought into Japan in the Edo period (1603-1858) for ornamental purposes, and can now be found across Japan. Despite their beauty, however, red morning glories are designated as weeds of concern by the National Agricultural Research Organization of Japan.

2026/8/16

2026/8/16

Angled Sunbeam (Curetis Acuta) ウラギンシジミ（裏銀小灰蝶）

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This is a female angled sunbeam (Curetis acuta), a butterfly which can be found in eastern Asia including Japan. It's easy to tell its male from its female as the male has an orange center on the upperside of its wings while the female has a pale blue center. 

The butterfly's Japanese name is "ura shijimi," which translates into "Lycaenidae with its underside being silver."    

2026/8/16

Pale Blue Golden Dewdrop (Duranta Erecta) 水色のデュランタ

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Deep purple golden dewdrops can be often found but not pale purple ones. The leaf shape and sprawling shrubs are the same but the flower color difference makes them look like different plants. 

2026/8/16

2026/8/16

Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) ヒルザキツキミソウ（昼咲月見草）

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I thought that they were gigantic rosy evening-primroses (Oenothera rosea) at first and found at home they are not but showy evening primroses. This primrose is native to North America and was imported to Japan as an ornamental plant and can now be found across Japan. The primrose produces flowers from May to July in Japan, which are 4-5 cm in diameter and open during only the day. Because of that, its Japanese name is "hiruzaki tsukimisou," which translates into "primrose opening during the day." 

2026/8/15

Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) ゴーヤ（苦瓜）

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Bitter gourds (Momordica charantia) are native to tropical Asia, came to Okinawa, i.e., one of the southern islands in Japan, in the early 15th century, and can now be found across Japan. The gourds are monoecious, which means they produce yellow, male and female flowers from July to August but it's easy to tell because the male has the yellow center while the female has the green center. They usually produce male flowers first to ensure the safe fertilization of the female ones. So, the ratio of male to female in early summer is about 10:1. 

Ripe orange gourds (scroll down) are edible including the red seeds and even jelly like stuff around the seeds. 

2026/8/10  A male flower

2020/8/8  Male and female flowers 雄花と雌花

Sea Roach (Ligia Exotica) フナムシ（船虫）

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Sea roaches (Ligia exotica) live in rocky marine coasts, harbor walls, piers, and docks just above the high-tide line. One of their characteristics is their agility. They run so fast that I've been able to take photos of them only twice, both of which time, they suddenly stopped for some reason. I always say "eek!" when finding them but I also find them when running creepy cute.

 

I first saw one in 2024 when taking an early morning walk along the river. Something small and black crossed in front of me at a GREAT speed. I automatically followed it but suddenly it stopped. It stayed there for ten seconds or so and suddenly started to run again at a greater speed. Its move was so cute but its appearance is not so. That was my first encounter with a sea roach. They're roaches, which explains their agility. 

2026/8/11