“Red berries rustling in the wind”

The edge of the woods. There was a thin tree with green leaves. Red berries that grow from the same base as the leaves. Its leaves and berries are distinctive and pretty.  [November 2021]

Ilex pedunculosa

晩秋から冬にかけて赤い実を付けるソヨゴ。縮れた葉の葉柄と、実の果軸は同じところから出ています。

“Berries of the Hiyodori-jogo”

In the middle of autumn, berries of various colors are noticeable. I saw bright red berry on a vine. That’s “Hiyodori-jogo.” Hiyodori means the Brown-eared Bulbul. That berries can be seen even in the winter, and look brilliant in the dead fields.   [November 2021]

Solanum lyratum

ヒヨドリジョウゴは白い花を咲かせた後、秋から冬にかけて赤い実をつけます。冬場、草が枯れたあとでも実が残っていることがあり、よく目立ちます。

“Stag beetles gathering in tree sap”

In the woods after the rain. The surface of the oak tree was covered with sap in places. A few stag beetles were visiting. Same species, but with different  shapes. They walked around on the trunk. Nearby, a beetle nuzzled its face into the sap and didn’t move an inch.  [AUGUST 2021]

Prosopocoilus inclinatus

樹液を出す木を訪れる、クワガタの仲間。ノコギリクワガタは大小の個体があり、大あごの形も大きさによって異なります。

“Dragonfly with a straw yellow color”

As I walked around the rice fields, I saw a dragonfly perched on a sasa. It was a female common skimmer. It is also known “Mugiwara-tombo.” Mugiwara means straw, and the color of its body is its origin. The common skimmer is very friendly and will sometime perch on a bag slung over your shoulder. They have always been very close to people.  [AUGUST 2021]

Orthetrum albistylum speciosum

田んぼの周りや街中など多くの身近な場所にあらわれる、シオカラトンボ。メスは麦わら色をした身体から、ムギワラトンボとも呼ばれます。人懐っこく鞄などにとまることもあります。

“White flowers with red lips”

The white flowers were tinged with lipstick red. It’s a vine that thrives in many place, in the field and in the city.  It has strong odor when scratched. In the fall, it bears brown berries.  [JULY 2021]

Paederia scandens

野でも街でも、旺盛に繁茂している様子を見かけるヘクソカズラ。白い花と口紅をさしたような赤が特徴的です。秋になると褐色の実をつけます。

“Magenta trumpets”

Under the railway viaduct at dusk. Magenta flowers were beginning to open among the thick grasses. They were four o’clock flowers. These flowers, which are often seen in the city, open at night. Magenta, white and yellow flowers stand out very well when they are in bloom at night.  [AUGUST 2021]

Mirabilis jalapa

オシロイバナは、昼間は花を閉じていますが、日が暮れ始めると咲きだします。マゼンタ色の花のほかに、白、黄色などの花を見かけます。

“Frog in the hole”

The pond had been drained. The leaves of water chestnut that floating on the water had been washed up all over the place. There was a hole in the dry ground. A brown frog was peeping out from inside. It stared at me and didn’t seem to come out.  [AUGUST 2021]

Fejervarya kawamurai

水が抜かれ、地面がむき出しになったため池。乾いた土面に穴が開いていました。ヌマガエルが中に潜んで、こちらを伺っていました。

“Wetland flowers”

When I visited the wetland, small flowers such as a ”Mimikaki-gusa” were almost over. Then, I found a long spike of white flowers in the grass. It was “Nogi-ran.” Ran means orchid, but it’s not a member of the orchid family. The orange stamens growing out of the white flowers were beautiful.  [AUGUST 2021]

Metanarthecium luteoviride

湿地など、湿った場所に生育するノギラン。白い花を穂状に咲かせます。近づいてみると、オレンジ色の蕊がきれいです。

“Green flatid planthopper”

The woods in the summer. As I was walking on a sultry road, I notice a small green. It was “Hagoromo (flatid planthopper).” Hagoromo is a thin cloth that the celestial maiden wears. The clear green wings were beautiful on the trunk of the tree.  [AUGUST 2021]

Geisha distinctissima

夏場、雑木林ではアオバハゴロモとよく出会います。淡緑色の翅がきれいな、ちいさな昆虫です。木の幹にとまっていると、その色がよく目立ちます。

“Longhorn beetle spawning”

A tigar-patterned longhorn beetle was walking around on a tree. Apparently it’s looking for a place to spawn. I could see the ovipositor. And it stopped and stayed for a while. Probably the spawning is over. The longhorn beetle quickly climbed the tree.  [JULY 2021]

Chlorophorus quinquefasciatus

雑木林の林縁でヨツスジトラカミキリが産卵をしていました。産卵管を腹部から出して、木の表面を探りながら歩き回ります。そして産卵を終えると木を登り去りました。