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ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020
HABITAT
UPDATES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
BUTTERFLIES DAPHNE MOTH STAMPS | MEADOW ARGUS | EDEN GARDENISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020
2
From the place for our butterflies and
EDITOR
moths.
Because the summer has
been a long dry one (in much
of the country, I know parts
As summer draws to a close have had a wet summer) I
it always amazes me just thought it was a great time
how busy the garden gets at to find out how our various
this time of the year. I have so many certified habitats have fared. I am
butterflies fluttering around and I sure you will enjoy reading about
think it’s interesting how their ‘flight their progress stories too on pages
Cover photo: Junonia villida (Meadow argus) 6-12.
visitor from Australia to the Kerikeri behaviour’ differs.
CONTENTS
garden of Linda and Paul Sutton
The social wasps that have been I do enjoy my contact with many
giving the butterflies a hard time since of you whether it is by email, mail,
the early spring will soon stop looking phone or personal visits when you
for protein (i.e. caterpillars) and turn come to buy plants. I was thrilled to
to a diet of nectar. I’m hoping, of receive this photograph of a little blue
2 Editorial
course, that the cold weather won’t butterfly from Councillor Cathy Casey
3-4 Daphne Moths - NZ Post Stamp Issue which she took while on holiday -
come too quickly and we will see
5 Certification Update many more monarchs eclosing. beautiful colours, don’t you think?
5 The MBNZT at work In the last issue there was a mistake
It’s been so gratifying watching the
6 Verran Primary School Update people fostering monarchs on the which I’ve been asked to draw your
Facebook ‘Monarch Matchmaker’ attention to. In the article about
7 On the Bright Side Update
page... and to hear some of the Chrissie Ward walking transects
8 Wildwind Wonder in Nelson, it was not December to
individual stories as people got to
9 Midsummer at Te Puna Quarry Park know others nearby, learning from March but a much longer “season”
each other, making the world a better - she begins in September and
10 Madam Butterfly’s Garden
continues doing her transects until
11 Saint Kentigern Update May. We apologise for this error.
12 Earthlore Update
Looking forward to meeting some of
13 Butterfly Gully at Yealands Estate your at our AGM in Wellington in a
14 Our Stunning Tiger Moths few weeks.
15 Inspector Insector
16 Special Offer for Members
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in the fields of conservation, education and
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Patron: Sir Robert Harvey, KNZM, QSO
Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knight
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BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020
3
DAPHNE MOTHS
1. Notoreas blax (western alpine
daphne moth)
The alpine and high alpine herbfields,
NZ Post Stamp Issue cushionfields and snowbanks of the
by Brian Patrick southwestern South Island from
Fiordland to Arthurs Pass beneath
In addition to offering postage stamps, and snowbanks. With a few species NZ’s loftiest peaks are home to this
New Zealand Post offers a range of found as high as 2,000 metres above daphne moth species. High up on
commemorative stamp products sea-level, daphne moths really do these steep and exposed slopes
celebrating our taonga, culture, define NZ’s dynamic topography, between 1150 and 1900 metres,
heritage, arts, stories and people. coastline, and geological features and Notoreas blax with a wingspan of
This summer they have released a set epitomise our picturesque and varied 16-22mm, flies in bright sunshine
of stamps, each stamp featuring the landscapes. between January and March, keeping
detailed wing pattern of one of our low to the ground to avoid being
beautiful daphne moths. Nine of the daphne moths are
swept away from its exposed and
threatened with extinction and are
dynamic habitat. The female lays
In the Summer issue of BUTTERFLIES listed as such by the Department
her yellowish-orange eggs on a
we explained that daphne moths of Conservation. Several are the
cushion daphne (K. croizatii) that
are colourful, day-flying species with subject of conservation programmes
is widespread and common on
wingspans between 18-26mm. Their and active management. The most
these steep slopes. The stout green
neatly patterned wings are constantly threatened are Notoreas edwardsi
caterpillars with a white dorsal stripe
vibrating when they are active on from the large sand dune system of
and darker green marks feed up fast
sunny days. They are often seen Mason Bay on Stewart Island, two
on their hostplant and pupate in the
sunbathing on bare surfaces, feeding undescribed Notoreas species on the
soil under their hostplant.
on nectar or carefully laying their eggs North Island’s eastern coastline at
on the right plant during periods of Cape Turnagain and Castlepoint, and 2. Notoreas edwardsi (Mason Bay
bright sunshine. the undescribed species at the foot of daphne moth)
the South Island West Coast’s glaciers
They are excellent botanists with their at Waiho Flats. Those four are listed The extensive and dynamic sand
caterpillars feeding on the foliage of as ‘Threatened-Nationally Critical’. dunes of Mason Bay on Stewart Island
just one family of plant which includes An undescribed coastal Marlborough are home to a recently discovered
the two NZ genera of daphne – species from Cape Campbell and and described daphne moth – N.
Pimelea and Kelleria - while the adults Cloudy Bay is listed as ‘Threatened – edwardsi. Discovered there in
take nectar from the sweet-smelling Nationally Endangered’. Four other December 1988 on Big Sandhill and
flowers of their hostplants. species including the Foveaux daphne formally named in 2010, the Mason
moth (N. casanova), and three Bay daphne moth is known only
Together with their daphne hostplants
undescribed coastal species from the from here where its green and white
they are often numerous in naturally
Wellington area, Northland coastline caterpillars with a pinkish-purple tinge
open habitats from the coastline –
along with the species on the clifftops feed on a sprawling daphne shrub P.
sand dunes, gravel beaches and rocky
of Taranaki are listed as ‘Threatened – lyallii. Its hostplant is numerous across
headlands – through inland short-
Nationally Vulnerable’. this extensive sand dune system
tussock grasslands to a range of open
that penetrates far inland providing
habitats above treeline such as alpine The six daphne moths on the stamp a large but dynamic habitat for this
grassland, herbfield, cushionfields issue are: brightly-coloured day-flying species.
The Mason Bay daphne moth with a
wingspan of about 2cm, is named for
Eric Edwards, from the Department
of Conservation who first found the
caterpillars of this colourful species.
The species is rare and classified by
the Department of Conservation as
‘Threatened, Nationally Critical’ – the
highest threat category.
3. Notoreas new species (Kaitorete
Spit daphne moth)
The Canterbury coastline south
of Christchurch is notable for the
extensive sand dunes and gravel
beach of Kaitorete Spit. Much of
the 25 km long spit is protected for
its biodiversity of flora and fauna
including this highly distinctive
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES
4
daphne moth. The diurnal adult 2cm, complete two generations sites vary from sand dunes, gravel
moths are often seen over the each year with adults flying between beaches through to rocky headlands.
summer months sunbathing on bare October and April. They don’t stray The Wellington coastline contains all
sand surrounding the sprawling mats far from their larval hostplant and are three habitats and all are inhabited by
of their larval hostplant P. prostrata often seen sunbathing on the sandy an undescribed but distinctive species
which is common in open areas there. substrate or flying low over the larval of daphne moth which has its plump
The caterpillars are reddish-purple hostplants searching for a suitable greenish-pink caterpillars feeding on
and hide by day under their hostplant. place to lay their eggs. several different sprawling daphne
In contrast to the alpine daphne species in the genus Pimelea. The
moths, the coastal species, reflecting 5. Notoreas mechanitis (South Island adults are found from October to April
the longer growing season of their alpine daphne moth) reflecting the passing of two complete
hostplant, have two generations each Alpine grasslands on both sides of generations each summer. The Coastal
year with adults found from late the Main Divide from Fiordland to Wellington daphne moth, with a
September to April. Nelson are home to this black and wingspan of about 2cm, although
white striped, yellow to orange locally common along with its
4. Notoreas casanova (Foveaux hostplant is generally rare along this
daphne moth) daphne moth species with a wingspan
of 22-26mm. The fast-flying diurnal dynamic coastline which has led to it
Several sand dune systems along adults frequent herbfield where their being classified by the Department of
the Southland coastline on the hostplants in the genus Kelleria grow Conservation as ‘Threatened,
northern side of Foveaux Strait are as low sprawling herbs or cushion Nationally Vulnerable’.
home to a recently discovered and plants. With such a wide distribution
named daphne moth. The Foveaux covering multiple mountain ranges
daphne moth – N. casanova – was there is inevitably much variation in Brian Patrick writes regularly in
discovered in 1982 and formally its colour pattern. The colourful adult BUTTERFLIES magazine. He grew up in
named in 2010 and is only known moths are most common between Invercargill fascinated by caterpillars
from Tiwai Peninsula, Fortrose Spit December and February and found and the plants they fed on as well as
and Three Sisters Sand Dune where above treeline from 1150 – 1500m but moths and butterflies from an early
it is uncommon and classified by with a few populations known from age.
the Department of Conservation as snowbanks and cushionfields up to
‘Threatened, Nationally Vulnerable’. 1860 metres. Only one generation is Brian now has a database of
passed each year reflecting the short nearly 4,000 field trips carried
It is the subject of an ongoing growing season of its extreme alpine out nationwide in the pursuit of
monitoring programme on Tiwai environment. The species can be knowledge of our diverse Lepidoptera
Peninsula, with the infamous Tiwai locally abundant, particularly where fauna and its specialised habitats and
Aluminium Smelter’s tall chimney in introduced mammalian herbivores are hostplants. He is the author of several
the background. Here its population controlled, as they damage the moths’ books including the ‘Wild’ series with
numbers are regularly checked to herbfield habitat and compete for Neville Peat and ‘Butterflies of the
detect any negative changes that the daphne species across the moths’ South Pacific’ with his son Hamish
would require active management. range. as well as several hundred scientific
Across its distribution the sprawling papers.
mats of both P. lyallii and P. prostrata 6. Notoreas new species (Coastal
are eaten by the stout purplish Wellington daphne moth) He never ventures out without a
caterpillars, particularly the fresh jar in his pocket, ever prepared
buds of these daphne species. The Daphne moths are found at strategic for discovering a new species in
adults, with a wingspan of about places around our coastline. These unexpected places!
YOU could receive a copy of George Gibbs’ book ‘The
FREE Monarch Butterfly in New Zealand (usually $29) PLUS
the NZ Entomological Society’s Identification Chart of NZ
Butterflies (usually $7) by finding us a new member!
That’s an additional $36 worth of gifts for each member -
AND YOU!
Find out more on the back page of this magazine!
Get in quick! Supplies are limited.
BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020
5
CERTIFICATION Update
Do you have a garden or habitat that • It will have evergreen shelter they have been established for 2-3
is ideal for butterflies and moths? trees of appropriate height years.
on the southern side of
For the past 11 years gardens that garden (meaning that Similarly indoor habitats with
are a great example of habitat can the warmth of the tropical species do not
be ‘certificated’ or approved by the sun can reach the qualify, as the idea is to
MBNZT. The owner proudly receives garden at all times of boost numbers of NZ’s
a beautiful plaque and with our help the year; endemic and native
are profiled in local media. species.
• And it will have a water
Other people are inspired to source for puddling; If you have a
create more butterfly habitat, or to butterfly garden
visit certificated gardens to glean We also encourage, in public or habitat (don’t
ideas. There are some wonderful spaces, signage (noticeboard, forget: moths too!) of
species of butterflies and moths in NZ website, brochure or whatever) as which you are proud, and if
that any one of us can to what plants were planted for what you believe it meets the above
encourage, once we species (hosts) and/or nectar during criteria, you’ll find the application
understand what they what season of the year. This should on our website – or please send us an
need. inspire and encourage email, trust@nzbutterflies.org.nz .
others to keep a
The garden or habitat must continuity of planting. The application fee is $60.00 and
meet the following criteria: Predators and parasites – when approved – you receive an
should be discouraged by impressive plaque for permanent
• It can be privately display outdoors as well, media
owned or a public space, natural means and good
hygiene means that pathogens coverage and a year’s subscription to
e.g. owned by council, our quarterly magazine.
landcare groups, are reduced to a minimum.
schools etc; Planting for butterflies and/or moths We have featured updates from some
needs ongoing commitment and of them as to how they’ve survived
• It will feature host plants for at the summer. You will see these on
least three different Lepidoptera perseverance. We discourage anyone
who plants up a piece of garden and pages 6 to 12.
species and nectar plants for all
seasons of the year; then applies to be certified. We won’t Also check out the certificated
consider certificating habitats unless gardens on our website.
THE MBNZT
Coming Events Agenda
EcoFest West is a month-long Annual General Meeting of the
festival of diverse events engaging
at work
Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust
Aucklanders to care for their to be held on Sunday, 22 March, 1.30pm
unique environment and live more at Thorndon School Hall, Wellington
Monarchs and Kings sustainably. Festival events include
guided nature walks, film screenings, 1. Apologies
Jacqui held workshops at Kings stream restoration days, hands-on 2. AGM Minutes 2019
Garden Centres over the summer workshops and more. On Friday, 27 3. Matters Arising
holidays. They were very popular! March, 7pm Anthony Darby will lead 4. Trustees’ Report
Both children and adults appreciated a moth search at the Blockhouse
learning more about butterflies in 5. Audited Accounts for 2018-19
Bay Recreational Reserve Butterfly
their gardens. Pictured, the audience Habitat. Meet in the tennis club 6. Auditor’s Report
at Kings Botany. carpark, Rathlin St. 7. Budget for 2020-21
8. Annual Subscriptions for 2020-21
The Annual General Meeting will
be held on Sunday, 22 March at 9. Election of Members of the Board
Thorndon School, Wellington – see the 10. Reappointment of Legal Advisor
agenda elsewhere on this page. After 11. Reappointment of Auditor
the business Jacqui Knight will share 12. General Business
her presentation: Ten Top Tips for Refreshments and presentation
Bringing Butterflies to your Garden.
Ten Top Tips for Bringing
All welcome! Butterflies to your Garden
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES
6
Verran Primary School Update By Frankie, Ana and Amy
At Verran Primary the monarchs are
feeding off the swan plants, pineapple
sage, geranium, Hebe, lavender,
daisies, verbena and calendula.
Most of the butterflies are monarchs
but cabbage whites around the
adjacent vege gardens and little blues
around the grassy edges. They have
found some owlet and looper moths
around too.
“We have the occasional yellow
admiral each year but not many.”
There are plenty of children and their
adults roaming around, interested in
the butterfly habitat.
They always want to know why there
aren’t more caterpillars on the swan
plants. After an arid summer the girls have been preparing the butterfly house for new
plantings, assessed the repairs needed and identified entry points for predators.
They are also trialling a wasp trap and collecting eggs as few caterpillars are
to be found on the swan plants. Pictured Holly, Frankie and Ana.
Kings caring for
butterflies For more informat
SURE TO GRO
Moths and Butterflie
PO Box 44100,
GUARANTEE
Phone 09 551
www.monarch.o
KEY POINTS
• Each species
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For more informat
Moths and Butterflie
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BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020
7
On the
Bright Side
We have had hundreds of visitors – both of the human and
By Lyn Barnes
having to rehome about 500 caterpillars and then sending
butterfly variety – over summer. Because our community about 300 chrysalises elsewhere. We had dense rows of
garden is a little pocket park, only metres from busy office chrysalises under a retaining wall, but by the time they had
blocks on New North Road on the Auckland city fringe, eclosed, the swan plants had not had a chance to revive
people who work in air-conditioning enjoy escaping to and were still bare stalks. And we have hundreds of
appreciate nature, albeit briefly. They come down plants.
through the tunnel under the Dominion Rd flyover
and sit under shelter and simply watch the sea of Just before Christmas we had a yellow admiral drop
orange monarchs. by, the first time one was spotted here.
So many comment on how wonderful it is to have We have planted two patches of nettles and because
an urban butterfly sanctuary on their doorstep. the admiral hovered around for a few hours we hoped
We also have lots of mums and children dropping to have eggs laid. But unfortunately that didn’t happen.
by. One young mum spends hours in the garden with her Then on Christmas Day, we had the first copper butterfly
baby. Bella is Mexican so the monarchs are a link to home frequent the established Muehlenbeckia bushes. Again,
for her. we were hoping it would lay, but there’s been no evidence
We were overrun with monarchs at the end of December, of that!
New
Packaging!
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES8
Wildwind
Wonder by Jane Carver
Ageratum houstonianum A popular dahlia Verbena bonariensis
At Wildwind Garden in Palmerston however it has promiscuously crossed Cinnabar and magpie moths have
North the habitat has lived up to its with all my Keith Hammett dahlias to been seen. There are also many
name. As I write this (2 February) the produce loads of beautifully coloured other species that I don’t have the
wind is howling outside. We have single flowers. knowledge to identify but all of which
had considerably lowered light levels, fall into the ‘brown’ category.
Australian smoke, frequent cloud They seed up all over the place
cover and more than our share of including into pots which has been I haven’t had human visitors to the
wind. marvellous for me as I now live next gardens here over the last couple of
door to Wildwind Garden and my years due to ill health but am very
We had many Asian paper wasps garden here is in pots including some pleased to see that the butterfly and
right through the egg-laying and early very pretty seedlings in mostly bright moth populations here persist without
nymph season and the wasps carried reds and shocking pinks! my intervention.
off all the young. The wasps can be
seen cruising most days still looking This season we have seen monarchs, From the early days here from 2005
for protein sources. As a result of both red and yellow admirals, onwards I have seen the habitat
these culminating circumstances the the occasional common copper, a grow and I’ve noticed that the
season has had a very late start. few common blue butterflies, and many butterflies, moths and birds
occasionally a cabbage white or two. proliferate. Birds love to feast on
The most popular flowers for caterpillars apart from monarchs.
nectaring this year are the usual I have noticed that the numbers
popular ones here at Wildwind, in general are down on previous We have gone from no visiting tui to
Verbena bonariensis, Ageratum seasons. There seems to be plenty a count of eleven at the nectar feeder
houstonianum, buddleias, and most of monarchs about now but many last winter.
popular of all the single-flowered are battered and have caused me to
wonder if they are last year’s fifth The first few years before any garden
dahlias in reds, oranges and pinks. was established were fairly barren.
The dahlia are mostly progeny from generation! However, there is a small
a single plant of species Dahlia number of bright-looking new ones Norm Twigge gave me much
Mexicana, which obligingly self seeds now. encouragement and assistance to
every year and never really produces It’s a very interesting exercise to go establish a population of admiral
seed true to form. out at night and see what is around. butterflies and they are seen here
The daytime butterflies have all gone each year now that populations of
D.Mexicana is an excellent seed various nettles flourish.
producer as are most species plants, into hiding, but there are many moths
nectaring on the same flowers.
BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 20209
Midsummer at
Te Puna Quarry Park
by Norm Twigge
It’s a sad state of affairs at the Te Puna Quarry Park butterfly area.
Normally we have quite a number of A few weeks ago I took up to the
cinnabar moths from late November quarry 40+ monarch caterpillars from
through to early January and this home, and then another 50 sizeable
season not one. No magpie moths ones which still leaves a good number
either! My daughter has seen several to go.
on her property out at Hairini so I
gave her a spare net and asked her to Although the odd mantis is found and
catch a couple for me to maybe get dealt with in my butterfly house, the
some eggs going. rearing of the monarchs in a protected
and predator-free environment works
At the moment the question most so this would indicate paper wasps
people ask is: “Where are all the and other unseen predators are the
butterflies?” Not a very positive culprits in my garden, preventing any
situation but working on it. Hugh caterpillars from growing.
Smith has been commenting on the
lack of monarch caterpillars at the Ants, some species of ladybugs
quarry and his searches every time he (harlequin spp), spiders, mantises,
is there produce almost none. soldier bugs and wasps all take
their toll and are responsible for
I had similar at home, with numbers the minimal numbers of butterflies.
of butterflies about, females laying Remember the fact that less than 5%
Nectar flowers hardly exist having eggs on plants, but no caterpillars. of eggs make it through to butterfly
been decimated by rabbits and the Observation showed eggs, and stage also has a large bearing on
drought. Because of this only a few the leaf scouring of newly hatched numbers. Five percent of minimal
monarchs are flying, we have not seen caterpillars, but none to be found. numbers equals even less!
any red admirals this season and only So a few weeks back I set up potted
one or two yellow admirals. Even the milkweeds and cuttings in water We would welcome volunteers to help
common blue is sparse. inside the butterfly house at home in the butterfly area. This might be a
and introduced a couple of female good little project for someone with
In the eight years I have been involved time on their hands and a wish to see
with the Quarry gardens it is the worst monarchs who took a day or two to
adapt to captivity before starting to it bountiful with butterflies again.
season I have witnessed.
oviposit on the milkweed. Rabbit damage! Top left is normally a mass of
nectar plants for the butterflies, Below left -
this frame usually supports dahlias 1.5m tall,
flowering profusely with monarchs feeding.
Below - a Honshu white admiral
in the butterfly house
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES10
Madam ,
Butterfly's Garden ' By Jacqui Knight
My great joy this season has been raising Honshu white
admirals (left). They are so different from monarchs or
admirals, and the adults, while about the same size as an
admiral, are easy to handle. They don’t mind you having
a close look at them and will float around your head and
onto nearby flowers. Hopefully now there will be eggs and
first instar caterpillars on my Japanese honeysuckle.
More and more people are interested in what is going
on in my garden. It has now been 99% organic for about
ten years. I highly recommend that when creating a new
garden you use old newspaper or cardboard to suppress
weeds and add mulch on top. This all decomposes and it
has improved the soil to Kentigernno end. The only plants
that have required water over the long summer have been
the ones in pots... some of those will be planted in the
nearby Blockhouse Bay Recreational Reserve Butterfly
Habitat when it’s a good time for planting. Visitors always
welcome... unless you’re a butterfly predator.
I am loving my butterfly garden this summer – it is giving
me and others a lot of pleasure. There are so many swan
plants, all self-sown, among the perennials which provide
nectar. There have been lots of monarchs emerging –
0%
those that have survived predation. There is always the
odd cabbage white and little blue floating around.
Sadly although my stinging nettle is going well, and despite
Effort
having had a great population last year, I haven’t seen an
admiral! I guess they will be back when it suits them.
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BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020SaintKentigern
11
Update
By Xanthe Noble and students
This summer we have seen hundreds of monarch
butterflies at Saint Kentigern’s butterfly habitat. It seems
the wasps have not found us yet!
Students have planted a variety of nectar flowers: sweet
peas, petunias and we have purple buddleia – but the
most popular of all were the giant stems of fennel which
we allowed to flower, and the trailing rosemary.
We mainly have monarch butterflies but also bumblebees
and cabbage butterflies. We also have a large puriri tree on
campus and there was a sighting of one moth last year but
nothing so far in 2020.
Our gardens are in full time use and the Lepidoptera
Society has over 50 members.
Alongside the butterfly habitat we run Seedlings for
Service and Plan B (for the Bees) with Auckland Council
and the Environmental Group, so 300-400 students use the
gardens for lessons, service and co-curricular every year.
We are often asked how to create a butterfly garden
and where to get swan plants (which we provide free to
anyone who asks) and where to source buddleia.
The fact that swan plants are poisonous has cropped
up and so we have a clear Health and Safety policy and
students are briefed in how to be safe when dealing with
plants.
Visitors from Saint Kentigern’s preschool (upper right)
and below monarch on dahlia
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES12
EarthloreUpdate By Janine Thompson
It has been several years since we received our to grow a nettle patch for admirals in their own backyards.
certification from the MBNZT in recognition of our efforts We are also always encouraging people to plant more
to create a haven for moths and butterflies. In that time flowers in their gardens, and have been encouraged
there has definitely been an overall increase in population ourselves to see how popular all the Hebes we’ve planted
numbers and variety of species. in our habitat are with the butterfly population. Due to
the diminutive size of the individual flowers they seem
There has been a slow increase in both yellow and red particularly good for the tiny coppers.
admirals but more noticeable has been the return of
copper butterflies and the great variety This season has also been our busiest yet
of moth species now present. There has for visitors to Earthlore, with many families,
even been a tussock ringlet spotted passing schools and pre-schools enjoying a personal
through. guided tour of Bug City Garden with
Inspector Insector, learning many of the fun
Every year is different though, depending facts there are to know about insects.
on the weather. This season has been
particularly trying with spring and early Raising awareness of the importance of
summer consisting of many very wet and insects has also led to our involvement
overcast days with low temperatures. with the Catlins Bat Project and Moth Net,
Consequently butterflies have been scarce, with a bat detector temporarily installed at
but night-time light trapping has revealed Earthlore revealing we are on the local bat
up to 50 moth variants in a night, most flight path, which is probably unsurprising
numerous being micro-moths and variations as we have now provided a gourmet
of carpet, snout and porina moths. smorgasbord of moths for these enigmatic
creatures. People ask how we feel about this,
Particularly popular with the moth putting all this work into creating habitat for
community are the many Olearia hectorii now reaching a moths and butterflies only to have them get eaten, but
good size among all the other natives planted specifically our reply is it’s all about biodiversity. Insects are critical
with native insects in mind. This tree features strongly in to the survival for so many other creatures, so when their
our talks with visitors to Earthlore due to its endangered numbers are scarce this has a knock on effect right up the
status and incredible importance to many native moths. food chain.
Another talking point is why we actively encourage nettles This has been very obvious for us to see first-hand as our
to grow, including the ferocious native Ongaonga, although habitat matures, as what started out as planting an area
the latter is safely tucked away to protect the unsuspecting for insects is now also home for tui, kereru, fantail and
passerby. We have found the general public have very bellbird all nesting and living at Earthlore all year round.
limited knowledge about host plants beyond swan plants That is why we do what we do.
for monarchs and hope that people will leave here inspired
Inset: Proteuxoa comma (on finger) and Ichneutica plena (below)
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BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 202013
BUTTERFLY GULLY
at Yealands’ Estate
What a contrast to last summer!
It has been hot and dry – hotter and drier than last year –
and the wasps have been having a field day. Not so many
monarchs have been seen and caterpillars have been
more successful where the swan plants have been planted
in clusters. This is because with the denser foliage there
are more places for the caterpillars to hide from winged
predators – namely wasps.
which has yielded mountains of compost since last vintage.
Yealands’ grounds team has also set bait stations using
Vespex to reduce numbers of Vespula wasps. And over “Through the Toitū carbonzero program Yealands has
the summer over 100 new plants have been planted and committed to lowering carbon emissions by 50% by 2030,
irrigation installed. There will be many more monarchs in and 80% by 2045. This falls in line with targets set by the
the last few weeks of summer… whenever that is! International Wineries for Climate Action group of which
we recently became members.”
Tara Smith is Yealands’ new sustainability manager.
She is very interested in what is going on in Butterfly But what’s this to do with butterflies?
Gully. “Sustainability is about setting measurable targets
and changes that will help lighten the footprint of our “Well, when we planted Butterfly Gully recently we were
vineyard,” she said. able to use the compost from our new facility to ensure
the plants had the very best start in life. Healthy plants
Tara said Yealands had reduced the emissions intensity lead to healthy butterflies – more able to withstand any
by almost 20% in the past five years through the Toitū predators or parasites.
carbonzero program. The latest initiative is the company’s
new 80-metre long, $2 million, covered grape marc pad It’s all good news for Butterfly Gully!
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES14
OUR STUNNING
Tiger Moths
by Brian Patrick
My first encounter with our fabulous tiger moths was
finding the densely hairy, orange-brown caterpillars
wandering in the grounds of Rosedale Intermediate in
North Invercargill, where I was studying. I took some home
and they readily fed on lawn grass I supplied and soon
pupated in a loose silken cocoon of dead grass, silk and
their body hairs. Three weeks later to my surprise, either
a colourful fully-winged male emerged or a buff-coloured
The adult male of the eastern tiger moth, M. huttoni, has a
plump, almost wingless female. Both were very active by wingspan of just under 3cm, while the similar but larger
day highlighting that they are diurnal like the caterpillars. western tiger moth male has a wingspan of up to 3.5cm.
I took them back to grassy areas between the school and distribution for any of these three. They closely resemble
Thomsons Bush which is nearby. I observed over the next each other probably highlighting relatively recent
few weeks the mating behaviour of the species, with the evolution across fresh landscapes post ice-age. Like the
flightless females releasing a phenome to attracted the eastern tiger moth, the western tiger moth is also found in
fast-flying males, and followed by mating. The females the low alpine valley floors across its distribution, where
then laid hundreds of cream-coloured eggs within their open grassland and scattered shrublands are found. As in
‘nest’ – which consisted of the opened up larval cocoon. M. huttoni, this species is found into the high alpine zone
This tiger moth species, Metacrias strategica is or was with records of up to 1950m in snowbanks on the higher
common across the southern plains of the South Island mountains.
from coastal grassland to the foothills from southern At about 3cm in length, the conspicuous orange-brown
Southland, eastern Otago including the hill suburbs and caterpillars of M. erichrysa, glistening in the bright
low hills that are the backdrop to Dunedin city to eastern sunshine and wandering over the road to Milford east of
South Canterbury areas such as the Hunter Hills. NZ has Homer Tunnel have even stopped cars and buses! I am
two other species of tiger moth: An alpine species M. among the people who have witnessed the phenomenon
huttoni which is distributed from Marlborough to northern of a swarm of caterpillars crossing the highway and
Southland east of the Main Divide including the many stopped my vehicle in awe of such a wonderful sight!
ranges of Central Otago and eastern Canterbury. I have
over a hundred records of this species across its range, so All three species have just one generation each year with
it is reasonably common in open grassland and herbfield their adults active in the early to mid-summer months
in alpine to high alpine habitats. The lowest altitude I have from November to January, with few adults seen after that.
recorded for it is at 750m in the Nevis Valley of Central Probably because they have flightless females which lay
Otago. hundreds of eggs over a limited area, the species can be
very common when encountered.
Another alpine species M. erichrysa, the western tiger
moth, is found from the southern North Island mountains They belong to the Lepidoptera family Erebidae sub-family
and in western alpine areas of the South Island from Arctiinae, a small family in NZ that contains just one other
northwest Nelson to Fiordland. There is no overlap in endemic moth, the familiar magpie moth.
Using pheronomes a tiny-winged female of the Eastern Tiger moth, The densely hairy caterpillars of the three species, like the adults
Metacrias huttoni has attracted a colourful male to mate and fertilise are similar in appearance. The caterpillar of the western tiger moth
her eggs. Once he finishes mating, she will scatter eggs about, (pictured here) is brighter orange and larger than its two relatives and
thereby instigating the next generation. can grow to over 4cm in length.
BUTTERFLIES ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 202015
Solve the mystery and be in to win!
"All moths
fly at night"
FACT or FLYBLOW???
Parents/grandparents – this is for younger children.
Please help them find the answer. Email their answer
together with their name, address and age to
inspector.insector@gmail.com and they will be in the
draw to win a copy of AMAZING ANIMAL SENSES
kindly donated by Scholastic Books.
BUTTERFLIES
in the Garden of Eden
by Jacqui Knight
In 1996-97, Operation Ever Green used blanket aerial
spraying to eliminate white-spotted tussock moth from
Auckland. This was successful but other insects were lost
as a consequence. Rob Jones and Angela Moon-Jones
have since been on a mission to bring butterflies back to
Auckland.
Not only have they rescued admirals from parks and
reintroduced them to their own garden, fostered the Her Excellency the Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy
growing of nettle on Mt Eden/Maungawhau and lobbied Reddy meets a yellow admiral at Eden Garden. Rob Jones
the Albert-Eden Local Board to create the Balmoral Heights looks as proud as punch! Photo: Angela Moon-Jones
Park butterfly habitat, but they’ve worked with the Eden
Garden Society in their award-winning garden.
Eden Garden is a peaceful sanctuary created in 1964 in
an old quarry site adjacent to Government House, and is
open to the public for an admission fee. Managed by The
Eden Garden Society it covers over 2ha on the slopes of Mt
Eden.
Rob and Angela were instrumental in securing a green-
house from Edenlite Greenhouses and inside they raise
admirals on stinging nettle plants. Stinging nettle plants are
also on sale at Eden Garden. Numerous butterfly releases
occur inside the garden, and now admiral butterflies have
been reported all around this inner city suburb.
Well done, Angela and Rob.
ISSUE 32 | AUTUMN 2020 BUTTERFLIES16
WE NEED MORE MEMBERS!
We need to do MORE work for our New Zealand butterflies and moths. How can we do that?
With MORE members our work is even MORE effective! We can create MORE awareness. We can attract MORE
sponsors. Funders and government departments will listen to us MORE as we advocate for MORE butterfly and moth
habitat and MORE protection for MORE native species.
So here’s a very special offer just for you so you can help us MORE.
Print off (or copy) this back page and pass it to someone who loves butterflies MORE than you do...
(or as much). When they join we will send them, free of charge*:
A copy of George Gibbs’ amazing book on the monarch butterfly - essential
reading for every New Zealander. Easy-to-read language - does your local
school have a copy? Usually $29.00
A copy of the NZ Entomological Society’s Identification Chart of NZ
Butterflies. Essential for every outdoor experience, camping
trip, tramp or bushwalk! Usually $7.00
That’s an additional $36.00 worth of gifts for each member!
And if they mention your name, we will send YOU
a copy of these as well, to thank you for your good work.
What MORE could you ask?
* While stocks last.
So get in quick! If every one of our members was to attract
one MORE member we would double our membership!
A GIFT FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
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