Insects of Urabandai
The marshlands and lakes of Urabandai are home to numerous species of dragonfly, with 61 species sighted in the area. This includes the Siberian hawker (Aeshna crenata), and the dainty Platycnemis echigoana featherleg damselfly. There are more than 90 identified species of butterfly, including the chestnut tiger (Parantica sita). Various threatened species live here, such as the gengoro diving beetle (Cybister japonicus) and the himeshijimi or silver-studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) and several species of firefly, including both the well-known Heike-botaru (Aquatica lateralis) and Genji-botaru (Luciola cruciata), named after two famous warrior families from the twelfth century.