Butterfly Communities and Environmental Assessment at Shōsei-en Garden

Abstract

It has been suggested that Shosei-en Garden may be an invaluable habitat for creatures living in urban areas. In support of this view, we conducted a butterfly survey from August 2020 to July 2023 to evaluate Shosei-en Garden’s environment, focusing on butterflies from the perspective of the relationship between living creatures and garden management. Over this three-year period, 535 butterflies from 26 species in 5 families were observed. In areas where native plants were used to create scenery, we confirmed the presence of wild flower-feeding butterflies, such as the Monarch Butterfly and the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. We also confirmed that the Gomadara butterfly, the purple-tinged tit, and the Siberian serpentine have all firmly established themselves in Shosei-en Garden. Survey results suggest that the various environments existing in Shosei-en Garden may play a role as green spaces interspersed throughout Kyoto City.