| 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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Limenitis glorifica, commonly known as the Honshu White Admiral,[1] is a butterfly species of the family Nymphalidae. L. glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, in Japan,[2]. They were intentionally introduced into New Zealand as their larvae are primarily found feeding on the leaves of Japanese honeysuckle plants.
Identification edit
The eggs of the Honshu White Admiral are pale yellow[3]. The species' newly born caterpillars are brown and do not have noticeable spine protrusions on their back like those of other species; as they grow, they turn green, and spiked protrusions appear[3]. Once the growth has finished in the individual's larval stage, the caterpillar has reached around 25mm in length[4] and will form a light green and brown pupal case[3].
The Honshu White Admiral Butterfly adult is black with a white band across its wings; at the end of the wings are grey, reddish-brown, black, and white markings. The wingspan of the species is approximately 60mm. Males and females look similar[3].
Geographic Distribution and Habitat edit
Natural Global Range edit
The Honshu White Admiral Butterfly is endemic to Honshu[5], the island known as mainland Japan. It was released in New Zealand in 2014[6].
New Zealand Range edit
The species was initially purposefully released in Karangahake in the Waikato and began to spread. Recent sightings of the Honshu White Admiral have occurred in Tairua, Te Aroha, and Waihi Beach, all in the North Island[3].
Habitat preferences edit
The Honshu White Admiral prefers open[7] and dry warm-temperature habitats [4]. It can be found along hedges of suburban and rural areas, as well as in forest clearings[8], such as willow forests near riverbanks[7] and field margins in open habitats[8]. It has an altitudinal limit of 1450 meters[4].
Life Cycle / Phenology edit
The eggs of the Honshu White Admiral Butterfly are laid on honeysuckle plants in spring since they have the most successful maturation in warmer seasons[4], hatching after about a week[3]. As the caterpillars grow over six weeks, they moult their exoskeleton five times to make room for their growing body. Once they have completed their larval stage, they form their pupal case suspended from a honeysuckle plant. Adults emerge after a week[3].
The development from egg to adult takes around eight weeks in warm temperatures; adults live up to a month, and females lay 150 to 200 eggs over two to four weeks[3] on the leaves of Japanese honeysuckle[4]. In colder seasons, larvae hibernate once daylight hours fall below 13-14 hours, living in shelters made from leaves hanging from stems. Depending on how warm their habitat is, up to four generations can be produced a year[3].
The Honshu White Admiral Butterfly has an intricate courtship display where the male circles the females and requires large amounts of space to do so[9].
Diet and foraging edit
The caterpillars of the Honshu White Admiral feed on the foliage of honeysuckle plants[4] on which they are born, primarily the Japanese honeysuckle but they can also feed on Himalayan honeysuckle[3], and morrow honeysuckle[7]. The caterpillar can consume, on average, 2.13g or 5.6 leaves each[4]. The Honshu White Admiral Butterfly adults only feed on Japanese honeysuckle[10].
Predators, Parasites, and Diseases edit
In New Zealand, few parasitoids are believed to attack the butterfly[3]. Potential predators of the Honshu White Admiral caterpillar are invertebrates such as ants[8]. Also, generalist predators such as praying mantids[10] and wasps may feed on the butterfly[3]. The possibility of Honshu White Admiral populations being affected by parasitoids is low because they only feed on the Japanese honeysuckle. Parasitism would only be possible if the parasites were close to the honeysuckle [10].
Other Information edit
The release of the Honshu white admiral into New Zealand was approved in August 2013.[11]. The Honshu White Admiral Butterfly was introduced to New Zealand into Waikato in the spring of 2014[6] as a biocontrol agent against the Japanese honeysuckle plant, a pest species in New Zealand[4]. The Japanese honeysuckle is damaged by these from it being the caterpillar's primary food source, and, in large numbers, they can defoliate plants well[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 m "Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral". Manaaki Whenua.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ISSN 2538-0125.
- ^ Tanaka, B (1978). "Larval food-plants and distribution of Japanese Ladoga (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)". Transactions of the Lepidopteral Society of Japan: 35–45.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. Cite error: The named reference "Paynter 2019" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "What's new in the biological control of weeds?" (PDF). Manaki Whenua (7). February 2015.
- ^ a b c "Responses from Maori to App 201710, and responses to previous application". Manaki Whenua.
- ^ "White admiral butterfly to take on honeysuckle". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-16.