“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。

“Liriope flower”

Liriope flowers began to bloom on the road side of the woods. After this, many small purple flowers will bloom like ears. It is a common flower, also planted in parks and shrines.  [JULY 2021]

Liriope muscari

ヤブランはうす紫色のちいさな花を穂状に咲かせます。秋から冬にかけて緑から黒い実になります。公園や神社にも植えられているのもよく見かけます。

“Jewel beetle”

The hottest time in the region. When I was watching the mushrooms growing from the humus, a green shining insect flew by my side. It was the jewel beetle. It perched on a branch near the ground and began to climb it. It climbed little by little, pointing its legs fluttering. When it reached the tip of the branch, it spread its wings and flew away.  [JULY 2021]

Chrysochroa fulgidissima

エノキなどの木の近くで見られる、ヤマトタマムシ。細い枝などを歩くのは得意ではないのか、脚をしきりとジタバタさせます。翅をすっと開いて、ふわっと飛び立ちます。

“Seascape”

The woods remain on a small hill near the sea. You can overlook the sea from the park created by opening a wooded area. There was no one in the park that day. Beyond the sand fence, the summer sun was shining white on the sea.  [JULY 2021]

“Hagi flowers”

As I was walking down the road, hagi flowers were blooming near the bamboo grove. The hagi family includes trees and grass. Ki-hagi is a shrub. White and purple butterfly-shaped flowers refreshed the roadside under the summer sky.  [JULY 2021]

Lespedeza buergeri

夏になると、萩の花が目立ち始めます。キハギは、木本のハギ。夏に咲く、白と紫色の蝶形花は、さわやかです。

”Adult antlion”

In the woods after the rainy season. A lacewings fluttered among the trees with its wings shining. The larva is known as the antlion. It creates a mortar-shaped nest on the sand and waits for the small insects to fall in it. It grows by feeding those insects. Around the end of the rainy season, the antlion who has accumulated enough power, transforms into the lacewing with beautiful transparent wings.  [JULY 2021]

Hagenomyia micans

ウスバカゲロウは、その幼虫がアリなどの昆虫を捕食するアリジゴクとして知られています。梅雨の終わり頃、アリジゴクは真夜中にウスバカゲロウへ変わります。林内をきらきらと翅を煌めかせてはばたく姿はきれいです。