Lorquin's Admiral, Larva Development - Limenitis lorquini  burrisoni

Home   -     Butterflies    -   Swallowtails     -   Whites and Sulphurs  -  Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues & Metalmarks    -     Brushfoots     -     Skippers  
 Photo Details    -    Characteristics & Utah Range Map
   To see LARVA Development plus HOST PLANT photos, scroll down.  For other photos click  on

ADULT BUTTERFLY     PUPA

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Larva Development
Emerging from hibernaculum - Photo ©Todd Stout
emerging from hibernaculum
Third Instar
L. lorquini 3rd instar larva at 4:44 P.M. 04-02-06		 Third Instar
3rd instar larva- L. lorquini burrisoni -8:59 A.M. 04-03-06
3rd instar L. lorquini burrisoni larva

Fourth Instar - April 4, 2006
L. lorquini burrsoni larva - 8:06 A.M. 04-04-06
Close-up of Fourth Instar head
close-up of L. lorquini burrsoni larva - 8:08 A.M.

Fourth Instar set to molt
L. lorquini burrisoni 4th instar larva set to molt
Fourth Instar set to molt
larva on April 6th

Fourth Instar
dorsal view of larva on April 6th
Fourth Instar
larva on April 6th

Fifth Instar - April 06, 2006
back of head of 4th instar larva at 1:23 P.M.
Fifth Instar - April 06, 2006
head shot at 1:20 P.M.

April 06, 2006 - Larva Molting
side view of molting larva- L. lorquini burrisoni
Fifth Instar on April 7, 2006
5th instar larva munching on willow leaf

Discarded head case
discarded head case

Pattern on Back
pattern on back

Fifth Instar
5th instar

Fifth Instar on April 9, 2006
5th instar larva on April 9, 2006

Fifth Instar on April 9, 2006
5th instar larva on April 9, 2006

Fifth Instar
5th instar

Fifth Instar
5th instar eating a willow leaf


Host Plant - Weeping Willow- Salix-  leaves, branches and catkins with third instar feeding
L. lorquini burrisoni third instar larva feeding on host plant Weeping Willow- Salix- leaves, branches and catkins with L. lorquini burrisoni third instar larva feedin

Photo Details - ©Nicky Davis

 Dates and  times shown on photos

Larva
Third Instar
1. Third instar larva emerging from hibernaculum  ©Todd Stout

Fourth Instar
Right
Left
Starting to show that it is ready to molt
left, right
Left, Right - head shots - set to molt
Left, right - set to molt

Fifth Instar
 left, right - head shots  of  new 5th instar -  Larva is about one inch long now.
left, right - side views of  5th instar  larva
discarded head case
5th instar larva showing pattern on the back
5th instar larva with pollen on it's "horns"
5th instar
5th instar
5th instar
5th instar

Time  differential between the  first signs of being set  to molt  and the completion of the molt  to the next instar is approximately 30 hours.  The 5th instar  will prepupate in approximately 5 days;  two more days to pupate;  then  approximately 7 more days to emergence of the adult butterfly.

Host
Host plant usually Willow - Salix- sometimes quaking aspen, cherry trees, cottonwoods or plums.
1. Fourth instar larva feeding on  Willow tree leaves

 Adult butterflies nectar from plants including California buckeye, yerba santa, and privet; bird droppings; and dung.
Other
Larva  was extracted by Todd Stout on March 4, 2006, near  Robie Creek Road, Idaho.

The larvae resemble bird droppings, an effective camouflage which helps keep predators from eating them.  The white "saddle" serves as a light sensor.
Back to Top