Limenitis camilla (Linnaeus, 1764)

Host plants:
The caterpillars feed on Lonicera species, in Central Europe usually on Lonicera xylosteum. Where available, the species also uses creeping Lonicera species, Lonicera nigra (own observations near Memmingen in Germany) and probably Lonicera coerulea and Lonicera alpigena. Occasionally you can find larvae at appropriate locations on snowberry, which also belongs to the Caprifoliaceae.

Habitat:
Limenitis camilla inhabits forests of all kinds, as long as at least a somewhat lighter character and the food plant are present. The moth rises up to 1100m above sea level. Limenitis camilla is usually most common in lowland floodplain forests and in coppice woodlands. The caterpillars are not only found in shady places. In the Swabian Alb, I found them occasionally in sunny edges of woodlands to warm heathland afforestations, where they penetrate partially into the location spectrum of Limenitis reducta. In contrast to this species, Limenitis camilla larvae are not found on isolated bushes in open grasslands.

Life cycle:
Limenitis camilla hibernates as L3 in a hibernaculum through which the caterpillar is easily detectable in winter. The caterpillar is usually mature in late May or early June. The adults fly from mid/late June to early August. Deposition of the rather small eggs takes place on the upper leaf surface. This species also forms characteristic elongated excrement ribs as a young caterpillar.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
The abundances have declined significantly in recent decades. Limenitis camilla does not tolerate dense planting of spruce, beech and maple that covers all the wood surface. Thanks to its relatively large ecological valence, Limenitis camilla as such is not at greater risk and still fairly widespread in forests in Central Europe.

Remarks:
The distribution extends from Northern Spain across western, central and Eastern Europe (in Southern Europe only locally) and temperate Asia to Japan.