Japanese swift
Common NameJapanese swift
Scientific NameParnara guttata
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white
HabitatGrasslands, rice paddies, agricultural areas, open fields, forest edges
Geographic RangeEast Asia (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan), Southeast Asia, parts of India
Host Plantsrice, bamboo, sugarcane, millet, various grasses
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods in temperate regions)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grasses, and pupate in a silken cocoon. Multiple generations occur annually.
Identification TipsLook for its dark brown wings with a characteristic straight line of white spots on the forewing and the distinctive white fringe along the wing edges. Its antennae are hooked at the tip, typical of skippers.
Description
A medium-sized skipper with dark brown wings, featuring a series of distinct white spots on the forewings and a prominent white fringe along the wing margins.
