Luehdorfia japonica
The Gifu butterfly, also known as the Japanese luehdorfia, is endemic to Japan. Tiger swallowtails began to diverge during the late Miocene and there are four species. In this species, wingspan is 4.8-6.5 cm. The undersides of the wings have yellow and black vertical markings. Along the outer margins of the forewings are black bands. Along the anterior margins are black tiger-like oblique lines. The hindwings are yellow and wavy along the margins. The black band is inlaid with four crescent-shaped orange markings. In the center of the black band is a blue spot. On the tornus is a row of crescent-shaped red markings. The female is slightly darker than the male. The adults appear in early spring with one generation per year and overwintering of the pupae. The larvae feed on plants in the Asarum genus of the Aristolochiaceae family, such as A. asperum and A. takaoi. After mating, the male attaches a sphragis (mating plug derived from the sperm pod) to the female to prevent her from mating with other males.
