Limenitis glorifica, the Honshu white admiral, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. L. glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, in Japan, where it is found in temperate open or shrubland habitats.
| 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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Description
editThe caterpillar of the Limenitis glorifica hatches from single, pale yellow eggs and is green in colour, often with strange brown spikes sticking up across its body.[1] The adult (imago) butterfly is black, with silvery-white stripes across the top of the wings, and reddish-brown colouring on the underside of the wings.[2] 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.[3] There is no difference in appearance between the males and females of the species, and the wingspan is usually around 60 mm.[4]
Range
editNatural global range
editLimenitis glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, Japan.[4]
New Zealand range
editLimenitis glorifica was first brought into New Zealand in 2010, where it was released into the Waikato region.[4] Since being released, the butterfly has established in Karangahake and has been sighted in Tairua, Te Aroha and Waihi Beach.[4]
Habitat
editLimenitis glorifica lays eggs almost exclusively on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). In New Zealand, Japanese honeysuckle has established well in a variety of habitats including scrub, forest margins, wetlands, clearings, and pastures[5] and is considered an invasive species.[6]
Ecology
editLife cycle/Phenology
editLimenitis glorifica lays a single pale yellow egg on the underside of a leaf of Lonicera japonica. Eggs hatch after approximately seven days and the larvae grows for around 28 days, with some caterpillars overwintering if light levels decrease to less than 13-14 daylight hours per day.[2][7] After 28 days, the larvae form a greenish-brown pupa before adult (imago) butterflies emerge after roughly one week.[7] Adults live for up to a month after hatching from their pupa.[7]
Diet and Foraging
editLimenitis glorifica feed on Lonicera japonica.[4] Caterpillars consume a mean of 2.13 grams or 5.6 honeysuckle leaves in its larva stage.[1] In New Zealand, Limenitis glorifica has also been known to feed on Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa), which is another invasive weed in New Zealand.[4] However, other honeysuckles studied in Japan have shown little damage from feeding caterpillars.[4]
Predators, Parasites, and Diseases
editThese butterflies may come under attack from invasive social wasps that could limit their population growth.[4]
Interesting Information
editLimenitis 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.[4] The butterfly was first introduced in the Waikato region in 2014 to act as a biocontrol agent, however, it failed to establish at other release sites including a site in Auckland.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Parkinson, Adam (2022). "Foliage consumption of the Honshu white admiral Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer, 1909 on Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Thunb. In Aotearoa / New Zealand". Perspectives in Biosecurity. 7: 71–79. doi:10.34074/pibs.00704.
- ^ a b "Honshu white admiral, Limenitis glorifica". Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ "Nymphalidae". North Carolina State University. 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Meet the Biocontrol Agents : Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Landcare Research. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ "Flora Species. Lonicera japonica". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 22 Mar 2023.
- ^ "Species profile: Lonicera japonica". Global Invasive Species Database. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ a b c "The Biological Control of Weeds Book: Honshu white admiral" (PDF). Landcare Research. Retrieved 23 Mar 2023.
- ^ Paynter, Quentin; Peterson, Paul; Cranwell, Samantha; Winks, Chris; McGrath, Zane (2019). "Impacts of generalist predation on two weed biocontrol agents in New Zealand". New Zealand Plant Protection Society: 260–264. Retrieved 22 Mar 2023.