VOL.208 OCTOBER 2025
KAWAII CULTURE FROM JAPAN [Native Creatures of Japan] Papilio Okinawensis

The Papilio Okinawensis is a swallowtail butterfly native to the Amami Islands, an archipelago between Kagoshima Prefecture at the southern tip of mainland Japan and Okinawa Prefecture, as well as to the Okinawa Islands, which encompass Okinawa Prefecture and its surrounding islands. The wingspan of the Papilio Okinawensis exceeds 10 cm, and its wings are mainly black but exhibit a blue or green sheen depending on how the light strikes them. The hindwings display a red crescent-shaped pattern, which is more prominent in females. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the Euodia meliifolia and Japanese Prickly-ash, both deciduous trees of the Rutaceae family. The adult butterfly feeds on flower nectar and absorbs moisture from the ground. The species spends the winter as a chrysalis and produces four generations annually between March and October. However, the Papilio Okinawensis observed in spring is said to display the most vibrant colors.

Photo: PIXTA