Limenitis glorifica
| Honshu white admiral | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Limenitis |
| Species: | L. glorifica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Limenitis glorifica Fruhstorfer, 1909
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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 | edit source]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 | edit source]Natural global range
[edit | edit source]Limenitis glorifica is endemic to Honshu,[2] the largest island of Japan.
New Zealand range
[edit | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]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 | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).