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, in Japan, where it is found in temperate open or shrubland habitats.[2] L. glorifica was intentionally introduced into New Zealand as biological control for Japanese honeysuckle plants.
| 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 eggs of the Honshu White Admiral are pale yellow.[3] 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.[3] Caterpillars grow up to 25 mm long[4] and pupate in a light green and brown pupal case.[3]
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.[3] 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.[5]
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
editNatural Global Range
editLimenitis glorifica is endemic to Honshu,[6] the island known as mainland Japan.
New Zealand Range
editLimenitis 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.[3][8]
Habitat
editLimenitis glorifica prefers dry, warm climates.[4][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[4] but lays eggs almost exclusively on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).
Life cycle
editLimenitis glorifica lays eggs on the underside of Lonicera japonica leaves in spring, which is when larvae have the most successful maturation in warmer seasons.[4] 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] [3] Larvae pupate in a case suspended from a honeysuckle plant. Adults emerge after a week[3] 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.[3]
Diet and foraging
editLarvae of Limenitis glorifica primarily feed on Lonicera japonica[14] but they can also feed on morrow honeysuckle[9] and Leycesteria formosa,[3] which is another invasive weed in New Zealand.[14] However, other honeysuckles studied in Japan have shown little damage from feeding caterpillars.[14] Each caterpillar consumes, on average, 2.13 g or 5.6 leaves.[4] Adults only feed on Japanese honeysuckle.[15]
Predators, Parasites, and Diseases
editThese butterflies may come under attack from invasive social wasps that could limit their population growth.[16] In New Zealand, however, few parasitoids are believed to attack the butterfly.[3] Potential predators are invertebrates such as ants,[10] praying mantids[15] and wasps.[3]
Other 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.[17] The butterfly was successfully introduced in the Waikato region but failed to establish at other release sites, including a site in Auckland.[18] In large numbers, caterpillars can defoliate plants.[3]
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.[4]
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.
- ^ Limenitis glorifica , at funet
- ^ 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 (1): 71–79. doi:10.34074/pibs.00704. hdl:10652/5835. ISSN 2538-0125.
- ^ "Nymphalidae". North Carolina State University. 2015.
- ^ Tanaka, B (1978). "Larval food-plants and distribution of Japanese Ladoga (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)". Transactions of the Lepidopteral Society of Japan: 35–45.
- ^ "White admiral butterfly to take on honeysuckle". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ a b "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 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 c "Meet the Biocontrol Agents : Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Landcare Research. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ a b "Responses from Maori to App 201710, and responses to previous application". Manaki Whenua.
- ^ "Meet the Biocontrol Agents : Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Landcare Research. Retrieved 24 Mar 2023.
- ^ "Meet the Biocontrol Agents : Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Landcare Research. Retrieved 24 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.