Japan's National Butterfly, the Great Purple Emperor, Emerges Again This Year in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture

In Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, the beautifully shining national butterfly, the Great Purple Emperor, is emerging again this year on the school grounds of Meihō Municipal Elementary School (Hagiwaradai Nishi 3). The Great Purple Emperors, bred with the cooperation of the citizen group 'Association for Considering the Local Nature and Town,' are incorporated into lessons, allowing children to learn about the ecology of the Great Purple Emperor with its beautiful wings and enjoy its appearance.

Great Purple Emperor resting on a child's hand Children observing the Great Purple Emperor

The breeding cage, installed in a corner of the school grounds at Kawanishi Meihō Municipal Elementary School, houses the Great Purple Emperor, designated as the national butterfly by the Entomological Society of Japan and also registered as a near-threatened species. This initiative began in 2018 as part of the 3rd-grade science curriculum, with the cooperation of citizen groups such as the 'Association for Considering the Local Nature and Town.' Children visit the breeding cage during breaks and other times to enjoy the sight of the beautifully emerged Great Purple Emperors.

The Great Purple Emperor feeds on hackberry leaves during its larval stage, pupates, and emerges as an adult around June to July. Males are characterized by a purplish-blue color on about half of their wings from the base, with white spots. In contrast, females have reddish-brown wings, not the vibrant purplish-blue of the males, and are slightly larger than the males.

The breeding cage for the Great Purple Emperor within the school premises measures approximately 180 cm in height and 180 cm in width, and was installed with the cooperation of the aforementioned association.

Four hackberry trees, which the larvae of the Great Purple Emperor prefer to eat, are planted directly in the ground within the cage. This year, two adults emerged on June 2nd. Currently, 13 pupae are being raised inside the cage, awaiting their emergence.

Children commented, 'The Great Purple Emperor was very beautiful and cute. It was very fun to be able to actually touch it, and I wanted to know more about the Great Purple Emperor.'

Great Purple Emperor resting on a child's hand