1. Tips on Raising North American Limenitis (Basilarchia) species
Tips on Raising North American Limenitis (Basilarchia) species
Presented by Todd Stout
Utah Lepidopterists’ Society
April 8, 2006

2. Ova: Normally laid on the tip of the leaf
Limenitis immatures:
Ova: Normally laid on the tip of the leaf

3. Early instars: Larvae construct conspicuous perch
Limenitis immatures:
Early instars: Larvae construct conspicuous perch

4. Pre-diapausal third instars construct a rolled-leaf hibernaculum
Limenitis immatures:
Pre-diapausal third instars construct a rolled-leaf hibernaculum

5. Limenitis hibernacula: Attached to willow branch with silk
Are NOT necessarily difficult to locate in the winter when willows/aspens/service berries etc. have dropped their leaves because it remains attached to the branch where it can be somewhat conspicuous.
Caterpillar
Attached to willow branch with silk

6. Limenitis hibernacula:
However, hibernacula hunting in the winter can be extremely difficult if the population size is too small and/or if there is too much hostplant in the area.

7. Limenitis immatures:
Fifth instars

8. Limenitis immatures:
Prepupa

9. Limenitis immatures:
Pupa

10. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Note: Strategies for raising Viceroys as compared to banded admirals and purples are very similar with one key exception.

11. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
…and that is Oviposition Preference
Female Viceroys prefer to oviposit on willows adjacent to water courses or on willows draped right over the river itself.
Female banded admirals and purples also may oviposit near the river OR several hundred feet away where suitable hostplants are growing.

12. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys Strategic Similarities
Collecting and Obtaining ova from live females (Setting up oviposition cage)
How to recognize immatures on host—ova, pre-diapausal larvae, hibernacula
Insuring that ova hatch in the lab and do not desiccate
•Exposing freshly-molted second instars to sufficient photoperiod to avoid hibernation
Successful hibernacula overwintering techniques (avoiding desiccation).
•Setting up a post-diapausal rearing terrarium from hibernacula using willow starts
Differences in pre vs. post-diapausal larval resting positions
Utilizing Populus sucker leaves on larger instars to maximize the size of emerged adults

13. Repeating Theme of Rearing Admirals:
Whether it’s successfully…
Overwintering hibernacula
Hatching ova in the lab (avoiding desiccation)
Setting up rearing cage
Getting eggs out of live females
Finding populations (especially Viceroys)
Humidity!

14. Repeating Theme of Rearing Admirals:
Which is why Limenitis populations are much more prevalent in the Eastern U.S. as compared to the West
Humidity!

15. Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Tips of Raising North American Limenitis butterflies
8 April 2006
Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
L. archippus: Female oviposition preference is very close or right on top of water courses.

16. Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Tips of Raising North American Limenitis butterflies
8 April 2006
Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Non-archippus: Female oviposition preference

17. Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Tips of Raising North American Limenitis butterflies
8 April 2006
Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Differences in last instar larval structures/coloration
L. lorquini fifth instar
L. archippus fifth instar

18. Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Tips of Raising North American Limenitis butterflies
8 April 2006
Rearing L. archippus vs. non-archippus
Differences in last instar larval structures/coloration
L. weidemeyeri fifth instar
L. archippus fifth instar

19. L. archippus fifth instar
L. weidemeyeri fifth instar
L. a. arizonensis fifth instar
L. lorquini fifth instar

20. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: Collecting and Obtaining ova from live females
(Setting up oviposition cage)

21. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: How to recognize immatures on host
1. Ova are laid on the tips of the leaves of host willows, cottonwoods, aspens, etc.

22. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: How to recognize immatures on host
2. First, second, and third instars create a conspicuous perch on the hostplant

23. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: How to recognize immatures on host
3. Pre-Diapausal third instars construct a rolled-leaf hibernaculum

24. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: Insuring that ova do not desiccate

25. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: Expose 2nd instar larvae to 24 hours of light to insure that they don’t build hibernacula and go through to adult!

26. Key: Humidity, Airflow and Protection from Predation!
Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: Wintering Hibernacula Techniques
Key: Humidity, Airflow and Protection from Predation!

27. Rearing Banded Admirals vs. Viceroys
Strategic Similarities: Pushing Larvae Through to Adult

28. Tips on Raising North American Limenitis (Basilarchia) species
Tips on Raising North American Limenitis (Basilarchia) species
Thank You!