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.
The 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]
Limenitis glorifica is endemic to the island of Honshu, Japan.
Limenitis glorifica was first brought into New Zealand in 2010, where it was released into the Waikato region. Since being released, the butterfly has established in Karangahake and has been sighted in Tairua, Te Aroha and Waihi Beach.
Limenitis 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]
Limenitis 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. 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.
Limenitis glorifica feed on Lonicera japonica. Caterpillars consume a mean of 2.13 grams or 5.6 honeysuckle leaves in its larva stage. In New Zealand, Limenitis glorifica has also been known to feed on Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa), which is another invasive weed in New Zealand. However, other honeysuckles studied in Japan have shown little damage from feeding caterpillars.
These butterflies may come under attack from invasive social wasps that could limit their population growth.
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. 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]