About Sasakia charonda (Hewitson, 1862)
Sasakia charonda, commonly known as the Japanese emperor or great purple emperor, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. This species is native to Japan, ranging from Hokkaidō to Kyūshū, as well as the Korean Peninsula, China, northern Taiwan, and northern Vietnam. On average, males have a wingspan of 50 mm (2.0 in), while females have an average wingspan of 65 mm (2.6 in). They typically inhabit the upper canopies of forests, and only descend to feed or locate sources of salt. The larvae of this species feed on hackberries, including Celtis jessoensis, Celtis japonica, and Celtis sinensis. S. charonda is officially recognized as the national butterfly of Japan.
