Aso Wildlife Picture Books

Bonds between the Butterflies and the Plants and Trees from Which They Feed

The plants which the larvae of butterflies feed upon depends on the species.
These plants are called larval host plants or trees

Illustration: Large shijimi blue feed on shrubby sophora

イラスト： Illustration: Leptidea amurensis feed on Vicia amoena

Dung Beetles Are the Cleanup Crew of the Grasslands!

In Aso, there are about 50 species of dung beetles that keep the grassland clean by eating the dung of cows and horses.

Illustration: Horned dung beetle and earth-boring dung beetle

Illustration: Dung beetles raise their larvae in holes dug underneath cow dung

Are Butterflies and Ants Friends?

There are some butterflies which mature in ant nests during their larval stage. It is still a mystery why ants take butterfly larvae in their jaws and bring them into the colony.

Illustration: Scarce large blue larvae live in the nests of Myrmica kotokui

Illustration: Niphanda fusca larvae live in the nests of Japanese carpenter ants

Male Dragonflies Are Very Stylish!

Take a close look at their bodies and wings.
Male dragonflies are often beautifully colored!

They Look Different... Are They the Same Butterfly?

Some butterflies differ in appearance depending on the season they emerge from their cocoon. In this way, the shape of their wings and their colors can differ.

Illustration: When banded darters begin to mate, their bodies turn red

Illustration: The pattern on buckeyes' wings differs depending on the season they emerge from their cocoons

Bats Living in a Lava Tunnel!

Lava tunnels near Komezuka are inhabited by three of the seven species of bats confirmed in Aso.

Illustration: Three bats that live in lava tunnels: Greater horseshoe bat, least horseshoe bat, and Eastern long-fingered bat

Birds of the Grasslands and Forests

In Aso, there are many birds that live by making use of the grasslands.
This habitat differs from that of birds who live in the forest, and here birds obtain food and build their nests in a variety of places depending on the type of bird.

Illustration: Grassland birds: Short-eared owl, Latham's snipe, chestnut-eared bunting, and streaked fantail warbler
Forest birds: Mountain hawk-eagle, copper pheasant, lesser cuckoo, and Japanese bush warbler

The Various Grassland Rodents

WThe large Japanese field mouse, the harvest mouse that builds its nest in reeds, and the Japanese grass vole that builds its nest in the dirthen there's a hole like this in the grassland, that's our home.

Illustration: The harvest mouse builds a spherical nest above ground, and the Japanese grass vole builds its nest below

Frog Eggs in the Watering Spot for Cows?!

Illustration: The montane brown frog lays its eggs in cows' watering spots

The Many Grassland Creatures!

Illustration: A cow, fox, raccoon, deer, frog, mouse, rabbit, butterfly, and large shijimi blue

Aso's Wildlife Aso's Wildlife and the Rich Water Sources The Birds of Aso