{{Short description|Species of butterfly}} {{Speciesbox | name = Honshu white admiral | image = Limenitis glorifica1.jpg | taxon = Limenitis glorifica | authority = Fruhstorfer, 1909 | synonyms = {{species list | Ladoga camilla glorifica | (Fruhstorfer, 1909) | Ladoga glorifica | (Fruhstorfer, 1909) }} }}
'''''Limenitis glorifica''''', commonly known as the '''Honshu white admiral''',<ref name=EPAdiscussion>{{cite web|title=Release of the butterfly ''Limenitis glorifica'' as a biological control agent for control of Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica )|url=http://www.epa.govt.nz/search-databases/HSNO%20Application%20Register%20Documents/APP201710_APP201710_Discussion_Document.pdf|publisher=Environmental Protection Agency|accessdate=16 August 2013}}</ref> is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. ''L. glorifica'' is endemic to the island of Honshu, Japan,<ref name="Tanaka 1978"/><ref name=Savela>{{cite web |url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/limenitidinae/limenitis/index.html#glorifica |title=''Limenitis glorifica'' |author=Savela, Markku |work=Lepidoptera and some other life forms |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref> 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== The eggs of the Honshu white admiral are pale yellow.<ref name="Landcare Research C"/> 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.<ref name="Landcare Research C"/> Caterpillars grow up to 25 mm long<ref name="Parkinson 2022">{{cite journal |last1=Parkinson |first1=Adam |title=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 |journal=Perspectives in Biosecurity |date=5 December 2022 |volume=7 |pages=71–79 |doi=10.34074/pibs.00704 |url=https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.00704 |issn=2538-0125 |hdl=10652/5835 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> and pupate in a light green and brown pupal case.<ref name="Landcare Research C">{{cite web |title=Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biodiversity-biosecurity/weed-biocontrol/projects-agents/biocontrol-agents/japanese-honeysuck/ |website=Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Landcare Research C"/> ''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.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015 |title=Nymphalidae |url=https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-lepidoptera/family-nymphalidae/ |website=North Carolina State University}}</ref>
==Geographic distribution and habitat== ===Natural global range=== ''Limenitis glorifica'' is endemic to Honshu,<ref name="Tanaka 1978">{{cite journal |last1=Tanaka |first1=B |title=Larval food-plants and distribution of Japanese ''Ladoga'' (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) |journal=Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan |date=1978 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=35–45 |doi=10.18984/lepid.29.1_35 |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/lepid/29/1/29_KJ00006597180/_article/-char/en }}</ref> the largest island of Japan.
===New Zealand range=== ''Limenitis glorifica'' was first brought into New Zealand in 2010, where it was approved for release in August 2013<ref name="TVNZwhiteAdmiral">{{cite web |title=White admiral butterfly to take on honeysuckle |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/white-admiral-butterfly-take-honeysuckle-5529310 |accessdate=2013-08-16 |publisher=tvnz.co.nz}}</ref> and released into the Waikato region in 2014.<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)">{{cite web |title=Meet the Biocontrol Agents: Japanese honeysuckle Honshu white admiral |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biodiversity-biosecurity/weed-biocontrol/projects-agents/biocontrol-agents/japanese-honeysuck/ |access-date=24 Mar 2023 |website=Landcare Research}}</ref> Since being released, the butterfly has established in Karangahake in the Waikato and has been sighted in Tairua, Te Aroha, and Waihi Beach.<ref name="Landcare Research C" /><ref name="Landcare Research (2023)" />
== Habitat == ''Limenitis glorifica'' prefers dry, warm climates.<ref name="Parkinson 2022"/><ref name="Landcare A">{{cite web |title=Assessment of the host range of the white admiral butterfly, ''Limenitis glorifica'' Fruhstorfer (Nymphalidae), a biological control agent for Japanese honeysuckle |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biodiversity-biosecurity/weed-biocontrol/approvals/admiral-butterfly/host-range/ |website=Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research}}</ref> It can be found along hedges of suburban and rural areas, as well as in forest clearings, such as willows near riverbanks<ref name="Landcare A"/> and field margins in open habitats.<ref name="Paynter 2019">{{cite journal |last1=Paynter |first1=Quentin |last2=Peterson |first2=Paul |last3=Cranwell |first3=Samantha |last4=Winks |first4=Chris J. |last5=McGrath |first5=Zane |date=27 July 2019 |title=Impact of generalist predation on two weed biocontrol agents in New Zealand |url=https://doi.org/10.30843/nzpp.2019.72.258 |journal=New Zealand Plant Protection |language=en |volume=72 |pages=260–264 |doi=10.30843/nzpp.2019.72.258 |issn=1179-352X}}</ref> ''Limenitis glorifica'' has an altitudinal limit of 1450 meters<ref name="Parkinson 2022"/> but lays eggs almost exclusively on Japanese honeysuckle (''Lonicera japonica'').
==Life cycle== ''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.<ref name="Parkinson 2022" /> 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.<ref name="Moths & Butterflies Trust">{{cite web |title=Honshu white admiral, ''Limenitis glorifica'' |url=https://www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/species-info/honshu-white-admiral/ |access-date=24 Mar 2023 |website=Moths & Butterflies of New Zealand Trust}}</ref><ref name="Landcare Research (2016)">{{cite web |title=The Biological Control of Weeds Book: Honshu white admiral |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Discover-Our-Research/Biosecurity/Biocontrol-ecology-of-weeds/Japanese-honeysuckle-Honshu-white-admiral.pdf |access-date=23 Mar 2023 |website=Landcare Research |archive-date=14 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214173233/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Discover-Our-Research/Biosecurity/Biocontrol-ecology-of-weeds/Japanese-honeysuckle-Honshu-white-admiral.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Landcare Research C" /> Larvae pupate in a case suspended from a honeysuckle plant. Adults emerge after a week<ref name="Landcare Research C" /> and live for up to a month.<ref name="Landcare Research (2016)" /> ''Limenitis glorifica'' has an intricate courtship display where the male circles the females, which requires a large amounts of space.<ref name="landcare 2015">{{cite journal |date=February 2015 |title=What's new in the biological control of weeds? |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Publications/Weed-biocontrol/Whats_new_bioloogical_control_weeds_71.pdf |journal=Manaki Whenua |issue=7}}</ref> The development from egg to adult takes around eight weeks and up to four generations can be produced a year.<ref name="Landcare Research C" />
==Diet and foraging== Larvae of ''Limenitis glorifica'' primarily feed on ''Lonicera japonica''<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)"/> but they can also feed on morrow honeysuckle<ref name="Landcare A" /> and ''Leycesteria formosa,<ref name="Landcare Research C" />'' which is another invasive weed in New Zealand.<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)"/> However, other honeysuckles studied in Japan have shown little damage from feeding caterpillars.<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)"/> Each caterpillar consumes, on average, 2.13 g or 5.6 leaves.<ref name="Parkinson 2022" /> Adults only feed on Japanese honeysuckle.<ref name="Landcare D">{{cite web |title=Responses from Maori to App 201710, and responses to previous application |url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Discover-Our-Research/Biosecurity/Biocontrol-ecology-of-weeds/3-applications/Responses_from_Maori.docx |publisher=Manaki Whenua}}</ref>
==Predators, parasites, and diseases== These butterflies may come under attack from invasive social wasps that could limit their population growth.<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)"/> In New Zealand, however, few parasitoids are believed to attack the butterfly.<ref name="Landcare Research C" /> Potential predators are invertebrates such as ants,<ref name="Paynter 2019"></ref> praying mantids<ref name="Landcare D"/> and wasps.<ref name="Landcare Research C" />
==Other information== ''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.''<ref name="Landcare Research (2023)"/> The butterfly was successfully introduced in the Waikato region but failed to establish at other release sites, including a site in Auckland.<ref name="Paynter 2019"/> In large numbers, caterpillars can defoliate plants.<ref name="Landcare Research C" />
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.<ref name="Parkinson 2022" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar |from=Q5974350 |from2=Q15772373}}
Category:Limenitis Category:Butterflies of Japan Category:Endemic insects of Japan Category:Butterflies described in 1909 Category:Taxa named by Hans Fruhstorfer