Limenitis glorifica
| Honshu white admiral | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Limenitis |
| Species: | L. glorifica
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| Binomial name | |
| Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer, 1909
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| Synonyms | |
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Limenitis glorifica, commonly known as the Honshu white admiral,[1] is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. L. glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, Japan,[2][3] where it is found in temperate open or shrubland habitats. L. glorifica was intentionally introduced into New Zealand as biological control for Japanese honeysuckle plants.
Description
[edit]The eggs of the Honshu white admiral are pale yellow.[4] First instar caterpillars are brown and do not have noticeable spine protrusions on their back; however, as they grow, they turn green and grow spiked protrusions.[4] Caterpillars grow up to 25 mm long[5] and pupate in a light green and brown pupal case.[4]
The adult (imago) is black, with silvery-white stripes across the top of the wings, and reddish-brown colouring on the underside of the wings. At the end of the wings are grey, reddish-brown, black, and white markings. The wingspan of the species is approximately 60 mm. Males and females look alike.[4] Limenitis glorifica belongs to the family Nymphalidae which has reduced front legs that lack claws and are often held against the body, and which are not used for walking.[6]
Geographic distribution and habitat
[edit]Natural global range
[edit]Limenitis glorifica is endemic to Honshu,[2] the island known as mainland Japan.
New Zealand range
[edit]Limenitis glorifica was first brought into New Zealand in 2010, where it was approved for release in August 2013[7] and released into the Waikato region in 2014.[8] Since being released, the butterfly has established in Karangahake in the Waikato and has been sighted in Tairua, Te Aroha, and Waihi Beach.[4][8]
Habitat
[edit]Limenitis glorifica prefers dry, warm climates.[5][9] It can be found along hedges of suburban and rural areas, as well as in forest clearings, such as willows near riverbanks[9] and field margins in open habitats.[10] Limenitis glorifica has an altitudinal limit of 1450 meters[5] but lays eggs almost exclusively on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).
Life cycle
[edit]Limenitis glorifica lays eggs on the underside of Lonicera japonica leaves in spring, which is when larvae have the most successful maturation in warmer seasons.[5] Eggs hatch after about a week and the larvae grows for around 28 days, with some caterpillars overwintering in shelters made from leaves if light levels decrease to less than 13-14 daylight hours per day.[11][12] [4] Larvae pupate in a case suspended from a honeysuckle plant. Adults emerge after a week[4] and live for up to a month.[12] Limenitis glorifica has an intricate courtship display where the male circles the females, which requires a large amounts of space.[13] The development from egg to adult takes around eight weeks and up to four generations can be produced a year.[4]
Diet and foraging
[edit]Larvae of Limenitis glorifica primarily feed on Lonicera japonica[8] but they can also feed on morrow honeysuckle[9] and Leycesteria formosa,[4] which is another invasive weed in New Zealand.[8] However, other honeysuckles studied in Japan have shown little damage from feeding caterpillars.[8] Each caterpillar consumes, on average, 2.13 g or 5.6 leaves.[5] Adults only feed on Japanese honeysuckle.[14]
Predators, parasites, and diseases
[edit]These butterflies may come under attack from invasive social wasps that could limit their population growth.[8] In New Zealand, however, few parasitoids are believed to attack the butterfly.[4] Potential predators are invertebrates such as ants,[10] praying mantids[14] and wasps.[4]
Other information
[edit]Limenitis glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, Japan, but was released in New Zealand to act as a biocontrol for the invasive Lonicera japonica.[8] The butterfly was successfully introduced in the Waikato region but failed to establish at other release sites, including a site in Auckland.[10] In large numbers, caterpillars can defoliate plants.[4]
Despite being a common species in Japan, the Honshu white admiral butterfly has had little research on it other than its distribution and plant preference as a larva.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Release of the butterfly Limenitis glorifica as a biological control agent for control of Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica )" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ a b Tanaka, B (1978). "Larval food-plants and distribution of Japanese Ladoga (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)". Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan. 29 (1): 35–45. doi:10.18984/lepid.29.1_35.
- ^ Savela, Markku. "Limenitis glorifica". Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Manaaki Whenua.
- ^ a b c d e f Parkinson, Adam (5 December 2022). "Foliage consumption of the Honshu white admiral Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae) in Aotearoa / New Zealand". Perspectives in Biosecurity. 7: 71–79. doi:10.34074/pibs.00704. hdl:10652/5835. ISSN 2538-0125.
- ^ "Nymphalidae". North Carolina State University. 2015.
- ^ "White admiral butterfly to take on honeysuckle". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Meet the Biocontrol Agents: Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Landcare Research. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ a b c "Assessment of the host range of the white admiral butterfly, Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer (Nymphalidae), a biological control agent for Japanese honeysuckle". Manaaki Whenua.
- ^ a b c Paynter, Quentin; Peterson, Paul; Cranwell, Samantha; Winks, Chris J.; McGrath, Zane (27 July 2019). "Impact of generalist predation on two weed biocontrol agents in New Zealand". New Zealand Plant Protection. 72: 260–264. doi:10.30843/nzpp.2019.72.258. ISSN 1179-352X.
- ^ "Honshu white admiral, Limenitis glorifica". Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ a b "The Biological Control of Weeds Book: Honshu white admiral" (PDF). Landcare Research. Retrieved 23 Mar 2023.
- ^ "What's new in the biological control of weeds?" (PDF). Manaki Whenua (7). February 2015.
- ^ a b "Responses from Maori to App 201710, and responses to previous application". Manaki Whenua.