We observed the cocoons of Furcula furcula (Clerck) (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), which were predated at an urban park in Osaka Prefecture in central Japan. The predated cocoons included two types that bore pupal fragments or none inside, possibly indicating different predation modes by birds. Most of the cocoons were attacked, with the predation rates being 97.4% (N=117) on January 10, 2002, and 88.4% (N=69) on April 1, 2004, although the cocoon distribution pattern varied between the examination dates. The host trees were regularly planted along an avenue, and the twigs on their trunks were cleared every winter. Therefore, the predators could efficiently forage for F.furcula cocoons.

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Brown and yellow types in the forewing fringe color in the so-called "Eurema hecabe (L.)" show sympatric distribution on Okinawajima Island in the Ryukyu Islands and occurrence of their characters is closely linked with seasonal wing morph expression and host plant use (Kato, 2000a, b). Further, these sympatric types are sexually isolated at the level of behavior (Kobayashi et al., 2001). In the present study, distribution pattern of these two types was investigated in southwestern Japan (16 sites) and Taiwan (3 sites) and their taxonomic status was reevaluated. In Amami-Oshima, Kuroshima, Kumejima, Taketomijima, Iriomotejima and Yonagunijima Islands, only the brown type was found while in Kagoshima-shi, and Okinoerabujima, Yoronjima and Tokashikijima Islands, only the yellow type was seen. Sympatric distribution of the two types was found in Tokunoshima, Okinawajima, Miyakojima, Ishigakijima and Haterumajima Islands, and Taiwan. The fringe color type was linked with seasonal wing morph expression and host plant use in all populations, as shown in previous papers (Kato, 2000a, b). These results strongly suggest that the two types have differentiated at the species level. The examination of the lectotype of Papilio hecabe Linnaeus, 1758 revealed that it was the brown type. Based on these, we here propose that the yellow type butterflies belong to a different species, Eurema sp.

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The immature stages and previously unknown female of Actias ignescens, an endemic of the Andaman Islands, are described and figured in colour. The larval host plant in nature is Crypteronia paniculata (Crypteroniaceae). There are two generations annually, with adults on the wing in January and again in August and September. The immature stages are compared with those of the nearest related species of Actias.

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Male germ-line chromosomes were examined and illustrated for eight satyrine species from Russia.

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Two butterfly species, Sasakia charonda and Hestina japonica, have similar life cycles, which both use the same woody species as host plant and overwinter at the base of host trees during larval stages. We investigated the relationship between the density of overwintering larvae of these two butterfly species and habitat characteristics at two sites, i. e., a suburban site, where secondary deciduous broadleaf forest is distributed widely and continuously, and an urban area, which had a smaller, patchier distribution of forest than the former site. Density of S. charonda larvae was significantly higher in the suburban site than in the urban area, while the difference in the densities of H. japonica larvae between the two sites was not significant. The result of a two way ANOVA, in which study site and butterfly species were set up as two independent variables, suggested that S. charonda might be sensitive to decrease in secondary deciduous broadleaf forest as a result of urbanization, whereas H. japonica is superior to S. charonda in adaptability to reductions in the forest and might have a different life history strategy from S. charonda. There was a significant positive correlation between the density of S. charonda larvae and the total area of all forest types or the total area of the secondary deciduous broadleaf forests, but no significant correlations were detected for H. japonica between them. The fact that the density of overwintering larvae of S. charonda was affected by reductions in secondary deciduous broadleaf forest, may be closely connected to (1) that the density of eggs laid by female adults decreased when the area of nearby secondary deciduous broadleaf forest decreased and/or (2) that the mortality rates of young- and intermediate- instar larvae increased when the area of forest decreased. On the other hand, the fact that a significant correlation was not found between the density of overwintering H. japonica larvae and the area of secondary deciduous broadleaf forest around the host trees may be closely related to (1) that the female adults of H. japonica lay eggs on host trees quite independently of the area of the secondary deciduous broadleaf forest surrounding the host trees, and/or (2) that the mortality rates and factors of this species are different from those of S. charonda larvae, and are not affected by the area of the forest surrounding host trees. The result of this study provided helpful clues for clarifying the reason why S. charonda and H. japonica coexist to some extent geographically, but their local distribution patterns differ from each other in Japan.

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The genus Cryptomedasina Sato, 1995, from Sulawesi is revised with descriptions of the following six new species; C. aurifascia, C. schnitzleri, C. sampuragensis, C. takehikoi, C. basinigra and C. pulupulensis. Three males and one female among twelve paratypes of C. nagaii Sato, 1995, should have been identified with C. aurifascia and C. schnitzleri, respectively.

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The identity of Eupithecia atrisignis Butler is established, and a number of other names synonymised. A group of closely related species is described, and its members reviewed. A species previously misidentified as atrisignis is described as new.

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Butterfly communities were studied by route census from April to November in 2004 in the Arakawa river basin, Adachi-ku, Tokyo. There were 15 species belonging to 5 families. Species commonly observed were Pseudozizeeria maha, Pieris rapae, Everes argiades, Colias erate, Lycaena phlaeas, Parnara guttata. These 6 species occupied the 1st to 6th in a ranking of individuals and 93.15% of butterflies in this area. These species are grassland breeders with habit preference for the urbanized area. Number of species and individuals increased from spring to autumn, and peaked in early October. Seasonal prevalence of butterflies showed 3 patterns; early summer type, summer type, and autumn type.

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Many newly found letters written by M. A. Fenton, a pioneer of Japanese entomological research, have enabled us to trace his life, hitherto completely unknown. Based on the addresses and families which appear in the letters, documents concerning his birth, marriage and death were obtained and the outline of his life has become almost clear. He was born in Doncaster, England in 1850, stayed in Japan as an English teacher from 1874 to 1880. Returning to England, he graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge and followed a career as an H. M. Inspector of Technichal Colleges & Schools. He married Harriette Eleanor Binny in 1889 and had a daughter, Sylvia Ermyntrude in 1893. In 1924 or so, Fenton and his wife went to California, USA, where their married daughter lived, via Canada. He closed his days in California in 1937.

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Gibbovalva tricuneatella (Meyrick, 1880), comb. nov., which has been referred to the genus Acrocercops Wallengren, 1881 for a long time, is redescribed on specimens reared from leafmines on Typha domingensis (Typhaceae) at Okinawa-honto, Ryukyu, southern Japan. The wing venation and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated for the first time. Biological notes are given on observations at Okinawa-honto. The species is transferred to the genus Gibbovalva Kumata & Kuroko, 1988 mainly on the structures of the male genitalia.

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