The Japanese Dart

dark yellow with brown mottling.

Scientific name	Potanthus flavus
English name	The Japanese Dart
Japanese name	黄斑挵
Classification	Insecta
Classification details	Lepidoptera Hesperiidae
Full length	13-17cm
Distribution	Distributed in eastern Eurasia. South of Hokkaido in Japan.

Characteristics

Hensericho has yellow and brown spots on the underside of its wings that are close to orange. It has a slightly flashy appearance among the Hesericho that can be seen around us. The wing surfaces are alternately brown and orange in a wave-like pattern. The compound eyes are brown and large.

Its flight is as agile and straight as other hensericho.

Ecology

Found in grasslands and riverbeds. It sucks nectar from flowers and rests on leaves. Larvae feed on grasses. It emerges several times from around June to early autumn, and spends the winter as larvae.

Habitat

When I was walking along the riverbed in Asakawa, Hachioji City, I saw a sericho that stood out on the leaves. There are many plants of the gramineous family, including Japanese pampas grass, on the riverbed, and you can often see the Hesericho family. I didn't run away even if I took a lot of close-up shots. The hair growing on the chest gives the impression of an animal with fur.