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Argynnis hyperbius
This is a female. Upperside: apical half of fore wing from about the middle of the costa obliquely to just above the tornus black, inwardly suffused with purple, crossed by a broad white band from costa to the sub-terminal series of black spots; four preapical white spots, the upper three bordering on each side and above a very obscure ocellus scarcely visible on the black background, an inner and an outer subterminal transverse series of slender white lunules.
The Himalayas, in the outer ranges from Campbellpur in the Punjab to Sikhim; Oudh; Agra; Manbhum in Bengal; Assam, the Khasi Hills; Upper Burma; extending to China and Formosa; Sumatra; Java.
Hi Colin! If you check the distribution map on EOL, you'll see that their presence is well documented in Japan.
Thanks, Daniele. Very naughty of me, I should have updated this ages ago - too excited by new spottings! I wonder how common these are in Japan - the wiki entry just mentions India and extending into China.
Hi Colin! Beautiful picture. As indicated by KarenL and martinl this is not a Painnted lady but the Indian fritillary, Argynnis hyperbius (female). You can correct the ID by clicking on Edit this spotting and then saving the changes you make.
This is a stunning butterfly.
It is not Vanessa. It is Argynnis hyperbius female.
Very lovely but your id is incorrect - this is not vanessa cardui. Possible one of the Danaus species. I am sure bayucca can help you with a correct ID.
Pretty as a flower. The flowers really add so much to this lovely photo.