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Sericinus montela subspp.

Basic information
Scientific name Sericinus montela subspp.

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ホソオチョウ
Common names Sericin swallow-tail butterfly
Higher taxon Papilionidae, Papilionoidea, Lepidoptera
Natural range Continental China, Korean Peninsula, and southeastern Russia
Habitat Habitat with food plant (Aristolochia debilis) and sunshine. Somewhat cold area. Also along large rivers around urban area.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Kanto and Kinki Districts, Shizuoka, Gifu, Okayama, Yamaguchi, and Fukuoka Prefs. Range in Japan
Origin Possibly South Korea
Date The first record in Japan was in 1978 at Hino City, Tokyo.
Route Deliberate: Possibly released and spread “butterfly release guerrilla”
Impact Potentially: Competition with a native papilionid butterfly Atrophaneura alcinous, because this species uses similar habitat and feeds on Aristolochia debilis.
Native organism(s) affected: Native butterfly Atrophaneura alcinous
Regulation in Japan Act. Release of this species is prohibited in Aichi Pref.
Papilionidae is designated as a Quarantine Pest (the Plant Protection Law).
Introduced range in other countries None.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Matsuka & Ohno (1981) An epoch of Sericinus montela. Yadoriga. 103.104, 15-21 (in Jpn)
  • Plant Protection Station (2011) The Plant Protection Act. Quarantine Pest List. (Accessed on 2012-4-26) http://www.pps.go.jp/law_active/Notification/basis/5/245/html/245.html (in Jpn)
  • etc.