The taxon was originally described as a variation of Aglia tau . For the first time, Inoue (1958) was considered as a taxon. However, not all entomologists immediately supported the increase in rank to species [1] .
The wingspan of males is 70-72 mm; females 75-85 mm. The body is smooth, densely pubescent. The wings are plain with a dark border. The main background of the wings of males is bright red, females are pale gray-brown. Each wing carries a large discoid "ocular" spot. The ocellate spots on the fore wings are black, centered with a white stroke, and opaque. The ocellate spots on both pairs of oval wings are noticeably larger on the hind wings than on the front ones. The anal angle of the hind wings is rounded, without tails. On the front wing, the vein M 2 is connected with R 5 + M 1 by the transverse vein, while departing approximately from the middle of the outer edge of the discal cell. The antennae of the male are cirrus, and those of the female are serrated. Mouth organs reduced: proboscis underdeveloped or absent; labial palps well developed [2] .
It differs from Aglia tau in a number of characteristic morphological characters. The males of Aglia japonica are characterized by a more intense and vibrant orange coloration of the wings, partly with the deposition of white scales in the basal and apical region of both the anterior and posterior wings. Almost always, the middle band in the front wing of Aglia japonica is visible as a dark shadow. The “ocular” spot on the hind wings is always much larger than on the front ones (in A. tau, both “ocular” spots often practically do not differ in size) [1] .
It inhabits sparse mixed and small-leaved forests. Develops in one generation in a year. Flight time: beginning of May - June. Butterflies do not feed. Twilight and night butterflies. Males are more active than females; in some species they fly during the day. Females are inactive, spend most of their life sitting on plants. The males are active in the search for females; they are found using pheromones . Caterpillars develop on various broad-leaved trees [2] .
South Sakhalin , South Kuril Islands ( Kunashir ), Japan ( Hokkaido , Honshu , Kyushu and Shikoku ) [2] .
