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πŸ¦‹ Butterflies & Moths

Japanese Oakblue

Arhopala japonica

About

A beautiful lycaenid butterfly with brilliant metallic blue upperwings and cryptic brown underwings. Found in oak forests where its larvae live in association with ants. Known as 'murasaki-shijimi.'

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars produce sweet secretions that attract ants, which then guard them from predators in a mutualistic relationship.