ISSUE 9 | WINTER 2014

AND MOTHS OF NEW ZEALANDBUTTERFLIES

•BlueMoonInvasion–TropicalcyclonebringsBlueMoonstoNZ•Wintergardeningforbutterflyhabitats• InsearchoftheBlack Mountainbutterfly

IN THIS ISSUE:

LIFE ON THE EDGE

TO BE WON

24

– the story of a southern geometrid moth Asaphodes frivola

CONTENTSAn admirable Annual General Meeting

Life on the edge – the story of a southern geometrid moth Asaphodes frivola

Gardening with Jane Carver

Blue Moon invasion – Cyclone Ita brings Blue Moons

Idea with wings flies high – butterfly art for city wall

Thames High’s butterfly garden

In search of the Black Mountain butterfly

Black and White – History of the Black Mountain butterfly in NZ

Certification

Spread the word

Subscription – Win Fiskars Powergear pruners

Photography tip

Did you know

Goodies to buy – Win Omni gardening gloves

3

4

6

7

8

9

10

12

13

14

15

16

From the

Cover photo: The male Asaphodes frivola by Brian Patrick. Story on page 4.

Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knightjacqui@monarch.org.nz

Art Director: Kristie Rogers, redmooncreative@xtra.co.nz

Treasurer: Carol Stensness treasurer@monarch.org.nz

Advertising: Angela Moon-Jonesangela@monarch.org.nz

ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) ISSN 2324-2000 (Online)Published by: Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, PO Box 44100Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246www.nzbutterflies.org.nztrust@monarch.org.nzFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbnztTwitter: @NZButterfliesPinterest: pinterest.com/mbnzt

Printed in New Zealand on Cocoon 100% recycled paper using vegetable-based inks

Winter’s storms are upon us, changing our garden and

the wildlife that lives in it. Many people don’t appreciate Winter but there are positives to it. For example, the cold will keep at bay bugs and bacteria that could attack your plants in the Spring. Right now we need a hard Winter to knock back the social wasp population. They have been playing havoc with our butterflies over the past two years. Almost everyone has been commenting that there were very few Monarchs around this Summer.

On our website is information about those problematic social wasps. Another page to be uploaded has tips for people buying swan plants: following many complaints of caterpillars dying when they were put on newly bought swan plants we have been negotiating with one of the larger suppliers to upskill their

staff, retailers and buyers. The grower also assures us that this year plants will be available much earlier in the season for those people in the South Island. Fantastic!

In this issue there are articles about the tropical butterflies brought to NZ on Cyclone Ita as well as a rare

species of moth found in Southland, reports from our AGM and the efforts of individuals. Jane tells us how to look after your winter butterfly garden plus look out for two new seeds on offer – and an opportunity to win wonderful gardening gloves.

The MBNZT has much work to do and we require your help! We have an urgent need for a new treasurer – do you know of someone? And please share your magazine with others to encourage new members.

Remember Winter’s a great time to be reading up about our butterflies and moths – so renew your subscription first (don’t miss the deadline to go in the draw to win some fabulous Fiskars Powergear pruners) and then... tuck in!

Please supportOUR SPONSORS

EDITOR

Pg 10 – In search of the Black Mountain butterfly

Pho

to b

y A

ngel

a M

oon-

Jone

s

2

Did you know that butterflies are more endangered than tigers? No? In

Florida alone six species went extinct last year – according to Julia Whitty “they just vanished...” and there are 20 more on the critically endangered list. In the UK at least 23 species are known to be extinct – we will never see them again. Yet butterflies have been around for millions of years – long before us – and we are destroying their habitat here in NZ too.

We have very few species of butterfly, less than twenty, and it’s important that we look after the ones we have. The endemic Red Admiral, Kahukura (red cloak to the Maori), is only found in this country, and some people say it’s the most beautiful Admiral of them all – but in many places now you won’t see it any more.

On Saturday 22 March, Norm Twigge – an avid butterfly breeder – gave a riveting presentation at our AGM. He is very concerned about the plight of the Admiral as well as other species. He travelled all the way from Whakatane to share his knowledge and gave us practical ideas to help increase their numbers.

Did you know that the Admiral was originally called the ‘Admirable’? Besides the Red Admiral we also have Yellow Admirals here, native to our shores, Kahukowhai (yellow cloak to the Maori), and in some parts of the country they are struggling too.

The main problem is that Admirals breed on stinging nettle – and many gardeners think that this is a ‘nasty weed’ which has to be eradicated – depriving them of anywhere to lay their

The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust (MBNZT) is now almost ten years old and has made significant progress towards educating the people of NZ in the importance of conserving biodiversity so that butterflies and moths, and their habitat, are enhanced and protected for future generations.

Due to a recent resignation the Trust is now looking for a new Treasurer. This is a permanent position where your responsibilities will include

An admirableANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

eggs. Where Admirals can find patches of nettles they lay their eggs singly on a leaf. Once the caterpillars hatch they build a silken tent around the nettle leaves and nibble away at them.

Norm showed us photographs of Admirals he had bred and it was fascinating to see how different the caterpillars could be – an unknown world of a nearly extinct species. Norm explained that it was virtually impossible to tell a Red from a Yellow Admiral until they emerged from their chrysalis. The difference in larvae colour was no indication. It had been discovered that by comparing the length of the 4th and 6th setae (bristles) on the larvae there were visible differences between Bassaris itea (the Yellow Admiral) and B. gonerilla (Red).

Everywhere there is waste ground where nettles could be planted – think of your own community and I’m willing to bet you can think of an area which could become a butterfly haven. If you follow a few simple rules you could have Red and Yellow Admirals in your garden. Depending on where you live you might also be able to encourage Blues and Coppers, adding a special magic quality to your space. The MBNZT offers an on-line course on how to create a butterfly garden and tells you all about them.

It’s a sad fact that young New Zealanders may never see an Admiral butterfly, and yet it’s within our power to change that. Plant some nettles in a spare plot or area of your garden, persuade your Council to use that spare piece of land productively, and see what happens! Thanks Norm for your time and inspiration.

By Xanthe Noble

POSITION AVAILABLE – TREASURER10-12 hours a week with a twelve-month commitment expected. This is a voluntary position but a small allowance will be paid monthly. Would ideally suit someone retired or semi-retired.

To request a full position description or to apply for this role, please contact:Rebecca BibbyChair of the Board of Trustees (MBNZT)Tel: 09-4164234 or 027-2051065Email: rebecca@monarch.org.nz

management of the day-to-day cash flow, banking, preparation and monitoring of budgets, and the reporting of financial information to enable good decision making.

To be considered you must have sound financial knowledge and experience and good organisational skills. All of the accounts are maintained on computer using the Reckon system. Full training will be given.

The time commitment is approximately

Top: Brown, middle: Black,Bottom: Grey Admiral larvae.

Photos by Norm Twigge

3

Alfred Philpott discovered the unassuming geometrid Asaphodes

frivola near Invercargill over a hundred years ago. It is not recorded exactly where he found the solitary male moth he sent to Edward Meyrick in England for description but he made Invercargill broadly the type locality. Meyrick described this distinctive male in 1913 and the holotype specimen is in London’s British Museum of Natural History. A few years later in his list of the Lepidoptera of Otago Philpott stated under Xanthorhoe frivola (now Asaphodes frivola) “the type specimen is said to have been taken by myself in Invercargill, but I am quite unable to identify the species”.

He never found the moth again and neither did other lepidopterists so George Hudson had no specimens in the country with which to illustrate his monumental book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand published in

Story and photos by Brian Patrick

1928. But he did, however, give the species a brief mention.

No further records of the species were made until I moved to Otatara, near Invercargill in 1980, with the intention of searching for its related species Asaphodes oraria. On 17 March 1981 while exploring coastal tussockland and herbfield across the Oreti River on Sandy Point on a sunny day, I disturbed and caught a male Asaphodes that I’d not seen previously. I returned to the site at night and located the short-winged and flightless female of this species sitting on low herbage. Two nights later one male was attracted to light at my home a few kilometres away in Otatara. These observations together with my re-discovery of Asaphodes oraria were published in ‘The Weta’, the publication of the NZ Entomologist, in 1981.

In it I reported that Asaphodes frivola emerges as an adult from mid March to mid April, and is active on the warmest

nights during that period. I obtained eggs from the female and reared the larvae on lawn daisy. Its natural hostplant was not further investigated but strongly suspected to be a low-growing herb in the coastal tussock grassland.

Through the 1990s exploration of the coastal fringe of Tiwai Peninsula south of Invercargill yielded further males and females from one small site close to the aluminium smelter. Despite searching further afield on Tiwai Peninsula and Awarua Bay no further populations were found. This population appeared to be the only known one for the species as the Sandy Point population seems to have disappeared due to ecological changes possibly brought about through human disturbance and weed invasion. In 2011 on Tiwai Peninsula I confirmed that the population was intact with ten males and five females found on a small area of coastal fringe herbfield with club rush and silver tussock, Poa

The coast around Invercargill contains a superb array of habitats from herbfield to shrubland, much of it with upland affinities. This site on Awarua Bay although appearing natural is being invaded by aggressive exotic grasses and herbs which are eliminating the hostplants and hence the populations of rare species such as Asaphodes frivola, a local endemic moth.

4

LIFE ON THE EDGE– the story of a southern geometrid moth Asaphodes frivola

cita as the canopy species. In April 2013 Department of Conservation entomologist Eric Edwards found one additional population on the Three Sisters sand dune which is further west between Bluff and Omaui. He describes it as occurring in similar habitats as on Tiwai and that suitable habitat is uncommon and threatened by weed invasion. He also found additional males close to the known Tiwai site.

Asaphodes frivola is related to a suite of similar-looking geometrid species found around the margins of upland wetlands in northern and western Southland, and Central Otago. Species such as Asaphodes sericodes, A. dionysias, A. helias, A. recta, A. oraria, A. exoriens and A. obscura appear to be closely related both ecologically and phylogenetically and are found into the alpine zone, whereas A. aegrota and the now much rarer A. imperfecta are typically lowland species . Most have short and narrow-winged females that hold their tiny wings above their bodies and are not capable of flight.

Coastal Southland, across a range of ecosystems including wetlands, saltmarsh and shrublands, holds many species that are either considered identical with alpine species or closely related to alpine species. Asaphodes frivola fits this latter category. It is fascinating investigating the existence of these intriguing upland ecosystems and species at sea-level there.

In April 2014 I was contracted by the Department of Conservation to check out the Tiwai Peninsula population, confirm its ecology and attempt to deduce the larval hostplant. I was also asked to attempt to locate additional populations in the Invercargill area. After several days of walking large stretches of coastline on Tiwai Peninsula, Sandy Point and Oreti Beach I could find no further populations. But importantly at the known site on Tiwai Peninsula the probable hostplant was identified by local Department botanist Brian Rance as Ranunculus glabrifolius. Not

only was this plant locally common on the coastal fringe amongst club rush and silver tussock but old feeding damage was observed on the leaves. The genus Ranunculus is a popular hostplant among the nearly 50 species of Asaphodes where a larval hostplant is known. This small herb appears to be rare in the coastal fringe vegetation of the Oreti River and Awarua Bay but more survey is required to confirm this. This appears to have been caused by the invasion of a suite of aggressive

exotic herbs and grasses, and probably ongoing damage by recreational vehicles which are able to access these sites easily.

The result of this recent work has seen the Department of Conservation threat classification of Asaphodes frivola re-assessed by the specialist Lepidoptera group and raised considerably to ‘Nationally Critical’ reflecting its only two known locations, both of which are now rare ecosystems and under threat.

The male Asaphodes frivola (above) while it is a nocturnal species, is typical for the genus in that it is easily disturbed by day and then flies like a diurnal species. Pictured here from one found on Tiwai Peninsula on 17 April 2014. The female (below) is short-winged and flightless

therefore severely limiting the dispersal of the species

P A R V A

FREE, Full Colour, Plant Catalogue

HUGE range of flowering Perennials & Shrubs ideal for attracting butterflies

to your garden.

NZ’s Most Comprehensive mail-order plant Catalogue

P L A N T S

w w w. p a r v a p l a n t s . c o . n zEmail: info@parva.co.nz Ph: 03 349 4918

The World’s Plants to Your DoorPruning roses or Planting

stinging nettles for butterflies?

You need omni rose Pruning gloves.

available at garden centres nationwide.

www.omniproducts.co.nz

5

Butterflies and bees thrive on a plethora of nectar-rich flowers.

Winter is the best time to make sure you increase the size of perennial clumps, and make a good ‘flower bed’ that will attract the creatures you like to keep company with.

The winter garden can give the appearance that there is not much going on. However, underground clumps of perennials are expanding their root zones and where you may have had five shoots last year you may have ten new shoots ready to expand when the ground warms up in the coming spring.

Cold weather, dead and dying foliage above ground in late autumn and winter can fool you into thinking that there is nothing going on. To the contrary!

If foliage has been healthy throughout the spring and summer months there will be no harm in cutting it down in autumn and leaving it on top of clumps of perennials to form the basis of a mulch. All the nutrients are there ready to provide a good start for the following spring season and the natural carbon tied up in the dead foliage will contribute to the humus content in your soil, encouraging the worms upwards to

GardeningWith Jane Carver

help you cultivate around your precious plants.

Many of your plants will be dormant above ground and making preparations to expand below. In the meantime primula, polyanthus, viola and pansies will provide colour and nectar. Wallflowers and cheiranthus will flower in winter and are a valuable nectar source for your over-wintering butterflies and bees. Look out for them on a warm winter’s afternoon when the sun will warm them enough to go topping up on their energy reserves.

Annuals go to seed during autumn

and the seeds will be lying on the surface of your soil. Once again you can cut any dead plant material down to initiate a mulch or covering blanket for your plants during frosty nights. Annual

seeds will germinate when the ground begins to warm in spring, and these are the plants that will fill the gaps between your clumps of perennials. If you don’t have enough plants, or didn’t have many annuals last year, then purchase packets of wildflower plants from the MBNZT, and sprinkle them between clumps and shrubs in your flower border. Autumn and winter are the best times to make these preparations, beginning in autumn with plants that have finished their main display.

Finally add a layer of compost. A few bags can be purchased for around $20.

Lay compost in a thin layer around your garden. At a depth of 3-5cm compost is ideal as a mulch, and will make your garden look amazing, tidy, prepared and protected from the worst of the cold, as well as suppress weeds

Compost will bring the worms up from lower soil layers. The worms will help to incorporate all your previous season’s cut down material and turn it into food for the next season.

Don’t forget to plant a nettle or two in your vegetable garden to bring in the Admiral butterflies and provide them with

somewhere to lay eggs. Now sit back and relax. Take a chair outdoors on a sunny winter afternoon and see how many butterflies and bees you can count.

Happy gardening – Jane

WINTERAbove: Male and female Monarchs enjoying Winter nectar Tagetes lemonii. Female

has the broader veins, male has two scent pouches (spots). By Jacqui Knight.

This butterfly has shut up shop for the winter but doesn’t stop the kids from enjoying the garden on a sunny day. A mulch of leaves had been

added and seeds of a green crop planted. The leaves also deter the birds from eating the seeds and scratching for worms. Nothing deterred the kids:

Alicia and Aiden Reid. Photo by Jacqui Knight

6

In Australia’s Northern Queensland during April the larval food plants of the

Blue Moon butterfly (Hypolimnas bolina) die off which prompts large numbers of the butterfly to start a journey south, down the coastline to over-wintering areas. Enter Cyclone Ita, which started over the Solomon Islands as a tropical low on 1 April and quickly developed into a tropical cyclone as it moved towards the top of Australia, sweeping down

By Norm Twigge

Blue MoonINVASION

through Cooktown, Cairns, and on down the coast to Mackay, where it moved out to sea.

During this movement it likely picked up large numbers of Blue Moon butterflies. In such conditions butterflies are unable to fly against the wind so they are at the mercy of the wind direction.

Moving across the Tasman, the

Left: Male Blue Moon butterfly. Above: Female Blue Moon butterfly.

Photos by Norm Twigge.

remnants of the cyclone struck Auckland on 17 April and moved down on much of New Zealand.

Since then there have been a great many sightings along the Coromandel

peninsula and down to Tauranga and Whakatane of Blue Moons. Reliable confirmation has reported 13 butterflies in Whangamata, several in Thames, 19-20 in

Athenree, many sightings in Tauranga and several in Whakatane. Obviously many more were seen but went

unreported.The butterfly is a tropical/

sub-tropical species that had no choice in arriving here, and so

will probably not survive the colder temperatures as we head into winter. Even if the butterflies have laid eggs the larvae will not survive the winter, and there are no records of the species ever breeding here naturally.Photographs of the butterfly do

not do it justice: a large black butterfly flying gracefully in the sun and feeding at flowers, the white wing spots on the male flashing iridescent blue at certain angles. The last sizeable invasion took place in April-May of 1995 so it may be another 15-20 years before we see the likes again. But then... we are at the mercy of the weather.

7

Butterflies will bring new life to a huge wall in central Auckland.

The 300 metre expanse of concrete at the top of Dominion Rd has been a target for taggers for years but the addition of intricate butterflies will hopefully deter random attacks.

The structure, which includes a tunnel from Bright St to New North Rd, was formed when the flyover was created in Eden Terrace. Locals decided to run a competition to cover the wall with artwork, in hopes of replacing the grey patchwork. Auckland Council, with the support of Eden-Albert Local Board, put $2000 into the project. As a result four artists submitted designed for the wall. The ideas included old villas which represented those demolished during the road reconstruction; taniwha and native birds; an extinct huia and the butterflies.

A Facebook campaign asked for people to vote for one of the four representations. It was the butterflies with wings formed from kowhai flowers that locals preferred. The designer Kate Millington, who has a Master’s in Fine

Arts from Elam Art School, was delighted with the win. She lives on Bright St and feels strongly about the gloomy wall and tunnel.

“The butterfly appears in mythologies across diverse cultures representing the soul of deceased persons. This design acknowledges the lives of those who lived on this site before.

“The kowhai flower is an easily recognisable NZ icon. It was chosen here to represent the environment and the butterfly garden opposite the wall.

Planted with a variety of flowers and trees including kowhai and swan plants, this inner city oasis is the home to many butterflies, insects and birds,” explains Kate.

The next step in the project is to raise some funding. Kate will print kowhai butterflies onto tea-towels and pillowcases to sell. Organisers are also planning a street party.

To find out more, visit the Facebook page: The Wall on the Bright side or email thewallonthebrightside@gmail.com

IDEA WITH WINGS flies high

EncouragEBuTTErFLIESinto your gardenCheck out our BUTTERFLY BEAUTIES selection or choose from a variety of seeds that the butterflies will just love.

PO Box 283 Katikati 3166 Ph: 07 549 3409 • Fax: 07 549 3408

Visit our websitewww.kingsseeds.co.nz

By Lyn Barnes

Above: Example of the wall where artwork will be installed. Below: Beautiful community garden opposite the wall in Eden Terrace.

Photos by Lyn Barnes.

8

Year 9 students at Thames High School started working on a butterfly garden in term 3 of 2013 and the new Year 9 students have continued it into 2014.

We took a derelict overgrown area at the back of the horticulture area and cleared and flattened it. Two big planter boxes were put in and now a large number of swan plants and other butterfly-friendly plants are growing in the boxes.

All the plants were grown from seed collected from gardens. The fence has been painted and we plan a mural on the fence to attract passers-by to look at our garden which fronts on to a street. This is an ongoing project which brings biology alive for the students.

THAMES HIGH’SButterfly GardenBy Mary Sorby

Attract butterflies to your garden

Visit your local Go Gardening retailer for Swan Plants and

everything you need to create a butterfly friendly garden.

www.gogardening.co.nz/retailers

©Brian Sheppard Photography

Painting the fencePreparing the area

Raised gardens being filled

9

It seems we have an insatiable appetite for punishment. After our escapades

in Europe (MBNZT magazine Spring 2013) NZ’s Black Mountain butterfly was next on our list which of course meant lots of mountain climbing. Packed with hiking boots, wet weather gear and plenty of high energy snacks to keep up our energy, we headed off to the South Island.

Our first stop in December 2013 was Christchurch and we drove straight to Mount Hutt. When we arrived it was drizzling with rain which made for some interesting shots of soft dew drops on alpine flowers.

The next day was forecast for gale force winds by lunchtime so we headed back up the mountain, above 1200m, for another search. To our surprise and delight a hatch had occurred that very morning and for the first time in our lives we were able to admire this very

Up until the summer of 1999 all seemed simple in the systematic

world of our alpine Black Mountain butterfly. That was until a ten year-old Hamish Patrick noticed that the black butterflies were quite different on various mountains in Otago where I’d taken him in the early weeks of that year. We had explored the high alpine screes at 1500-1650m on the St Marys Range above Kurow on 16 January 1999 and a few weeks later on 6 February 1999 we drove and climbed high above the Treble Cone ski-field west of Wanaka to 1860m. I recall Hamish saying to me on the latter trip that these mountains held different species from one another to which I responded negatively “Well collect some and we’ll compare them when we get home.”. He did and of course was

IN SEARCH OF THE

Black Mountain Butterfly

BLACK ANDWhite

beautiful butterfly which had wings like black velvet. This species was Percnodaimon pluto/ Black Mountain butterfly and locally common on the scree slopes of Mt Hutt. It is a very fast flyer which makes it dangerous work running after them on rugged mountain slopes with camera equipment. However, on closer inspection we were able to identify it when we saw the broad wing shape with white spots inside large black areas which were within a pale brown coloured patch.

Crawling up on one, on all fours, we noticed that it also had an amazing green iridescence in the sunlight. After taking as many photos as possible we had to get off the mountain before being blown away. And when we went back four days later, there wasn’t a butterfly to be seen.

In the meantime we travelled along the Rakaia River where we found a

and name them in his PhD one day way in the future. I almost got that right. He had the opportunity to research them for his Honours at Lincoln University in 2012 and his subsequent dissertation earned him 1st Class honours.

Christchurch lawyer Richard Fereday named our first Black Mountain butterfly Percnodaimon pluto (as Erebia pluto) from a specimen he was given from the Craigieburn Range, inland Canterbury. Others soon found it on many other South Island mountain ranges from north to south. Later, in 1907, Harold Hamilton son of National Museum Director Augustus Hamilton sent his father a series of a mountain black from the Harris Mountains of western Otago that appeared to be different. Hamilton Senior described them as variety micans of P. pluto. So it remained until Hamish started noticing significant difference across the many populations we sampled over the South Island.

Hamish had noticed large and consistent morphological differences and had even found two of his forms on the one mountain, often at the same time

By Angela Moon-Jones (above) and Rob Jones

stunning Canterbury* Common Copper butterfly in very good condition with blue markings all along the edge of both wings. We then climbed up Porters Pass and spotted a few more P. pluto, too fast for our cameras, along with Common Tussocks, Boulder Coppers and more Common Copper butterflies.

In January 2014 we packed our gear again and headed for the tourist spot of Queenstown. This time we were looking for P. micans/Hamiltons Mountain Black* which is slightly smaller in size to the P. pluto. Our first hike up The Remarkables to Lake Alta only exposed

By Brian & Hamish Patrick

proven correct once we compared them with the ones we had from other mountains of Otago and further afield.

It was there and then we decided to collect these butterflies widely and I suggested Hamish might want to study

Top: Giant Weevil. Above: Canterbury Common Copper at Rakaia River.

10

with no sign of intermediates. For his Honours research Hamish

undertook a vast amount of DNA research at Lincoln University. DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid) is the basic building block of life and DNA barcoding or the use of short DNA sequences to help distinguish between species, is a reliable way to differentiate between different living organisms. DNA exists in the cells of all living organisms and the information encoded in an organism’s DNA acts as a blueprint for the organism’s biological development and functioning. A tiny fraction of a specimen’s leg was crushed up and used to extract the DNA.

In our 2012 book Butterflies of the South Pacific we provided a state of the nation coverage of his Black Mountain butterfly research which was completed a few months after the book was published. Our conservative approach proposed six taxa and mentioned the possibility of two more making a total of eight.

We raised P. micans to a full species but did not provide new names for

the other illustrated and proposed new taxa. As is often the case genetic analysis throws up some surprises, and in this case Hamish’s work showed clearly there was an additional new species in the mountains of northern Southland that we had not suspected. But looking closely at it since we see that it is actually distinct morphologically, something we had missed completely.

In summary his study gave very good support for five full species of Black Mountain butterfly and for five subspecies of P. micans, making a grand total of nine taxa of Black Mountain butterfly.

Over much of the South Island’s alpine areas there are actually two species on the same mountain; one early-emerging species that is found from the first week of November to late December, the second from mid December onwards with a period of overlap in the second half of December. We have a paper that is nearly complete describing these new species and subspecies, mapping their respective distributions and discussing their conservation.

With these gorgeous dark-coloured butterflies we can celebrate the magnificent alpine areas of the South Island where the alpine zone is essentially an archipelago of islands in the sky. And given the complex and long tectonic history of these mountains it really is not surprising that these butterflies have diversified in this way. Perhaps more species of them remain to be discovered and named.

It is expensive and time consuming work doing genetic analyses and Hamish is grateful for funding for his Black Mountain butterfly research from the Miss Hellaby Research Fund.

We have recently begun another major project to elucidate the taxonomy of our butterfly fauna. This time it is the Coppers we will attempt to understand and we hope to complete the first phase of analysis by August, 2014. We are grateful to the Central Auckland Branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Society for funding to get this large project underway. We will report on our initial results in a forthcoming article in this magazine.

a few Tussocks. However, we found other wonderful and rare wildlife such as an archaic-looking Giant Weevil and a flightless beetle called the Bumbling Chafer/Scythodes squalidus. Fascinating creatures to photograph against the breathtaking views of Lake Alta.

On our third-time-lucky climb, at the very top of The Remarkables peak we were rewarded with three sightings of P. micans. Rob managed to get one shot of it as it raced along the very steep slope so that we could later identify it. The oval-shaped wings had eight white spots on the forewings this time, inside black spots against brown coloured patches. It turns out that we had found the subspecies of P. micans of which we believe there are five subspecies. Rob was ecstatic with this sighting and so was I. It meant we wouldn’t have to climb up this mountain for a fourth time!

According to Brian and Hamish Patrick’s book Butterflies of the South Pacific which we use as our field guide, the Black Mountain female butterflies lay their eggs on rocks adjacent to the larval host plant, Poa/grass and the caterpillars then pupate under a stable rock. There are possibly up to six species of black butterfly in New Zealand with five subspecies. Further DNA research is being carried out to confirm and identify them. This just goes to show that there is so much more to learn about our wonderful New Zealand butterflies and there are still many more mountains to climb.

* Read ‘Black and White’ below by Brian Patrick for more information.

Percnodaimon Pluto – Black Mountain butterfly

11

Have you thought about applying to have your garden or habitat certified? Certification indicates that your garden/

habitat is ideal for at least three species of butterflies and moths. In this way other people such as gardeners, local conservation groups and land-owners will see you as an example and be inspired to create more butterfly-friendly areas.

Indoor habitats with tropical species do not qualify, as the idea is to boost numbers of NZ’s endemic and natives. There

CERTIFICATIONFor your garden or habitat

CAR UPDATE

are some wonderful species of butterflies and moths in NZ that any of us can encourage once we understand what they need.

If you have a butterfly garden or habitat (don’t forget: moths too!) of which you are proud, and if you believe it meets the above criteria, you will find the application form on our website. Six habitats approved so far have been in Auckland, Te Puna, Owaka and Palmerston North. Now is the time to apply!

Left: Jacqui Knight receives her certificate, presented to her by Jo McCarroll, editor of the

NZ Gardener.

Whatyouneedforcertification• privately owned or public spaces, e.g. owned by

council, landcare groups, schools etc;• must be outdoors;• evergreen shelter trees of appropriate height on

southern side of garden;• host plants for at least three different Lepidoptera

species;• nectar plants for all seasons of the year;• water for puddling;• signage on display (noticeboard, website, brochure

or whatever) as to what plants were planted for what species (hosts) and/or nectar during what season of the year (to inspire and encourage others to keep a continuity of planting);

• predators and parasites to be discouraged by natural means;

• been established for two or three seasons, and be able to provide evidence such as photographs, references etc. Planting for butterflies and moths needs ongoing commitment and perseverance.

Since we called for help to get a car to help with transport to and from displays and presentations, we have raised over $1,100. Thank you to those who have participated: we are still exploring opportunities to make this happen and we haven’t forgotten our assurance to you. If you would like to see a butterfly on the side of our car to acknowledge your efforts (or someone you love), then ensure we have their name. Donations are held in the MBNZT’s special account with Kiwibank, 38-9009-0654693-01. If your donation is more than $50 let us have the name to be painted on the side of the vehicle.

12

It’s fantastic spreading the word about the need to look after our butterflies

and moths. Some of the highlights since the last magazine have been our involvement in Eye on Nature, where we worked with hundreds of schoolchildren who came to our three tents to learn how to identify the different stages of several species such as the Admirals and Puriri Moth. The theme was the forest and many of the children had never been in the bush before – so it

Visit Kings Plant Barn – pick up a FREE copy of your Butterfly Garden Guide and check out our huge range of butterfly attracting plants.

Kings caring for butterflies

Kings proudly supporting The Moths and Butterflies

of New Zealand Trust

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO

BUTTERFLY GARDENING

FORREST HILL 1 Forrest Hill Road, Ph 0800 752 687

HENDERSON 224 Universal Drive, Ph 836 9635

HOWICK 280 Botany Road, Ph 273 8527

REMUERA 236 Orakei Road, Ph 524 9400

ST LUKES 118 Asquith Avenue, Ph 846 2141

SILVERDALE Cnr East Coast Rd & Main Hway, Ph 426 0401

TAKAPUNA 11 Porana Road, Ph 443 2221

TAKANINI 163 Airfield Road, Ph 298 8736

VISIT YOUR LOCAL KINGS

KINGS VIP CLUB

OPEN 7 DAYSCall 0800 PLANTS

www.kings.co.nz

Temquissit eum voluptat arunt ressed quam rem.

Anda sit que velendita id minvend ignimus. Ro

mincia doloriste verspiciat eaqui cum dolorep

udisit ea quia dolum labo.

Join the Kings VIP Club to receive our

newsletters, VIP exclusive specials,

competitions and discount vouchers

SURE TO GROW

GUARANTEE

For more information on butterfly gardening write to:

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246.

Phone 09 551 3383

www.monarch.org.nz

KEY POINTS• Each species of butterfly or moth needs specific

host plants. Female adults will only lay eggs on

the species that their juvenile forms will eat.

• Research before you begin planting to

determine which plants to use and how

much space is required.

• Insecticides harm all stages of the butterfly cycle.

Try organic gardening and IPM (integrated pest

management). Seek out advice on the website of

the Moths and Butterflies New Zealand Trust.

• Sunny gardens attract the most butterflies so

plant nectar-rich flowers and host plants in

the sunniest part of the garden.

• Choose plants that will bloom at different times

throughout the year. Try experimenting with

a variety of plants that appeal to different

butterfly and moth species.

• Provide a sunny spot for basking and shelter

for the wind and rain.

• Nectar plants provide food for the adult

butterflies, while host plants feed caterpillars.

Some nectar plants are also host plants,

e.g. swan plants.

A COMPLETE GUIDE TOBUTTERFLY GARDENING

FORREST HILL 1 Forrest Hill Road, Ph 0800 752 687 HENDERSON 224 Universal Drive, Ph 836 9635HOWICK 280 Botany Road, Ph 273 8527REMUERA 236 Orakei Road, Ph 524 9400ST LUKES 118 Asquith Avenue, Ph 846 2141SILVERDALE Cnr East Coast Rd & Main Hway, Ph 426 0401

TAKAPUNA 11 Porana Road, Ph 443 2221TAKANINI 163 Airfield Road, Ph 298 8736

VISIT YOUR LOCAL KINGS

KINGS VIP CLUB

OPEN 7 DAYSCall 0800 PLANTS www.kings.co.nz

Temquissit eum voluptat arunt ressed quam rem. Anda sit que velendita id minvend ignimus. Ro mincia doloriste verspiciat eaqui cum dolorep udisit ea quia dolum labo.

Join the Kings VIP Club to receive our newsletters, VIP exclusive specials, competitions and discount vouchers

SURE TO GROW GUARANTEE

For more information on butterfly gardening write to:Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand TrustPO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246.Phone 09 551 3383www.monarch.org.nz

KEY POINTS• Each species of butterfly or moth needs specific host plants. Female adults will only lay eggs on the species that their juvenile forms will eat.• Research before you begin planting to determine which plants to use and how much space is required.• Insecticides harm all stages of the butterfly cycle. Try organic gardening and IPM (integrated pest management). Seek out advice on the website of the Moths and Butterflies New Zealand Trust. • Sunny gardens attract the most butterflies so plant nectar-rich flowers and host plants in the sunniest part of the garden.• Choose plants that will bloom at different times throughout the year. Try experimenting with a variety of plants that appeal to different butterfly and moth species.• Provide a sunny spot for basking and shelter for the wind and rain.• Nectar plants provide food for the adult butterflies, while host plants feed caterpillars. Some nectar plants are also host plants, e.g. swan plants.

Find your nearest store at www.kings.co.nz

was a huge learning curve for them.We also had displays at Explorama

(Auckland Museum) and the Waitakere Home and Garden Show, thanks to our wonderful volunteers who put their heart and soul into talking to interested attendees. It’s fun meeting all sorts of people too. And another small group got together to discuss Monarchs and wasps with a radio journalist with the interview subsequently heard on National Radio’s Our Changing World.

As well as the urgent need for a TREASURER we are hoping to expand on the work of the MBNZT and need to find more volunteers to share the workload. For instance, the Canadian movie Flight of the Butterflies is a great opportunity to share our message and raise funds – but we need more people to help bring it to the screen in NZ.

If you see an opportunity for you (or a friend or family member) below, or have ideas how you can help, please contact the secretary: Jacqui@monarch.org.nz. EDITOR: gathers the articles and photographs together for the quarterly magazines, consults with the designer and secretary as to layout. Need

excellent English and word-processing skills.MARKETING ASSISTANT: will rewrite articles and press releases to appeal to different media; will put together regular e-magazines. Social networking skills (or a wish to develop them) an advantage.EDUCATORS: we are getting more and more calls for people to speak to groups such as gardening clubs and school groups on the subject of butterflies and moths. We are happy to support other people in doing these presentations. They are fun if you’re a confident, outgoing person who enjoys meeting people or entertaining kids.

If you want support in developing habitats in your community (as Rob Jones has done at Balmoral Heights) we can help there too... please get in touch.

Balmoral Heights Planting Day. Rob Jones (far right) with friends.

Waitakere Home and Garden Show

Spread the word13

It’s time to renew your membership of the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust. To receive our full-colour magazine online costs only $25, $35 if you would like it in the mail.

Renew before 31 July and go in the draw to win a pair of Fiskars PowerGear™ pruners.

❑ Yes please join me up as a member to receive the quarterly magazine online for $25 OR❑ Yes please join me up as a member to receive the printed quarterly magazine by post for $35GIFT MEMBERSHIP❑ Yes please join my friend up as a member to receive the quarterly magazine online for $25 OR❑ Yes please join my friend up as a member to receive the printed quarterly magazine by post for $35 ❑ Yes I wish to make a donation to MBNZT (state amount) $________❑ Yes I wish to pre-order the 2014 Calendar for $25 GRAND TOTAL $____________HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAY?❑ Cheque – please make cheques payable to MBNZT, P O Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246. ❑ Direct Credit by internet banking to Kiwibank 38 9009 0654693 00 (quote surname and postcode).

Fiskars has been around since 1649, beginning life when in a small village of the same name Peter Thorwöste began making innovative, high performance products from cast iron and forged steel.

Since that humble beginning Fiskars has grown into a multinational corporation, still based at Fiskars but represented in 40 countries around the world. Their tools are known to reduce effort, fatigue and strains so often associated with gardening. Fiskars tools are designed to do the hard work for you. For instance, Fiskars PowerGear™ pruners have a gear mechanism integrated between the rotating handle and the blades, allowing the use of all fingers simultaneously.

www.fiskars.com

MY DETAILS: Mr / Mrs / Ms

First Name: _________________________________________________________

Last Name: _________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

Daytime contact phone no: ___________________________________________

GIFT MEMBERSHIP: Mr / Mrs / Ms

First Name: _________________________________________________________

Last Name: _________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

Daytime contact phone no: ___________________________________________Please feel free to photocopy this page and fill it out if you do not wish to cut up your magazine.

✂

TO BE WON

24

*

1 year for only

*$25.00 for online magazine. $35.00 for printed magazine.

Photography TipFrom Angela Moon-Jones

Use natural sunlight to show off the cells and details of a leaf such as this branch from the Onga Onga native stinging nettle which Red Admiral butterflies thrive on. By using the macro setting you can see how the stings look (below)…..more like a hypodermic needle!

Many people think you plant a swan plant and you have a butterfly garden but there’s much more to it than that. You need shelter, you need structure and many other considerations.

This fence in Lyn Barnes’ garden (right) illustrates the need for places where Monarchs can pupate (make a chrysalis). An amazing sight!

Caterpillars can barely see at all – they have simple eyes or ocelli which can only differentiate dark from light. By waving its head from side to side a caterpillar can judge depths and distances. At pupation time they leave the plant they’ve been feeding on as they know that is where predators and parasites will be looking for them, and many travel long distances to find that special place.

Finding out what makes the perfect butterfly garden or habitat is covered in detail in our Create Butterfly Habitat Course on line, next one starting on 1 July. More information here. http://tinyurl.com/m0narch-c0urse

DID YOU KNOW?

Photo by Lyn Barnes

15

You can order items by sending your order and cheque payment to: MBNZT, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246Or pay by internet banking into the MBNZT account – Kiwibank 38-9009-0654693-00 and send an email to treasurer@monarch.org.nz with details of your order, your name and delivery address.

TO PLACE AN ORDER

CaterpillarcastlesThe perfect product to protect your Monarch caterpillars from wasps.

Fine black mesh promotes healthy air flow. Large protected zippered opening for easy access: it’s a proven design used by our satisfied customers to raise thousands of healthy caterpillars.

Our original castles were white, but using black mesh means it is easier to see what’s going on inside - so they’re ideal for schools or in your home.

Collapsible, lightweight and durable the castles fold flat for storage or cleaning.

LARGE castles (33cm x 33cm x 60cm) are a perfect size for 10-20 caterpillars. Cost (including post and packaging) is $33 for financial members and $38 for non-financial members.

JUMBO castles (60cm x 60cm x 90cm) are also excellent flight cages - you can leave your butterflies in there while you wait for the weather to improve. $60 for financial members, $65 for non-members.

Caterpillar castles are awesome. No more caterpillars on the prowl. No more heartache due to predators.

GOODIES TO BUY

TheMonarchButterflyGeorge Gibbs’ The Monarch Butterfly is only $29 (includes P&P). This is an essential item for any backyard nature enthusiast, whatever the age. With great colour photographs it has all you need to know if you’re raising Monarchs in captivity or the garden.

Your purchase supports the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Seeds–$5perpacket• Butterfly Mix is a blend of wildflowers, annuals, to provide nectar for butterflies and bees as well as adding bright colour to your garden.

• NEW Oxypetalum caeruleum (Tweedia) related to milkweed, is a native from South America and valued for its sky blue star-shaped flowers and grey-green felted leaves. Flowers are loved by all butterflies as they are nectar-rich.

• NEW Vigna caracalla (Snail Vine) has outstanding perfumed flowers that look like snail shells. It is related to beans and is a host plant for Lampides boeticus, the long-tailed Blue butterfly. Flowers are creamy-white-pink-purple!

• Gomphocarpus physocarpus or the ‘Giant Swan Plant’ - more robust and resistant to the onslaught of the Monarch caterpillars. Much more resilient than

swan plant (G. fruticosus).

• Asclepias curassavica or Tropical Milkweed is a native milkweed from America. Monarchs will lay eggs on it – and it makes an attractive addition to the garden, very popular as a nectar source. Specify Gold (yellow) or Scarlet (scarlet-orange petals, gold centres).

• Asclepias incarnata, Swamp Milkweed also comes from America. There are two varieties – one has white flowers, one has pink. We have the variety with pink flowers.

• Urtica incisa or Pureora is also known as scrub nettle. It is a host plant for Red and Yellow Admiral butterflies, native to New Zealand and Australia.

Above: Tweedia.Below: Snail Vine.

Above: Tropical Milkweed.Below: Swamp Milkweed.

Spend $20 in our shop during July and you will go into the

draw to win a beautiful pair of Omni Red Back Gloves

Special Offer!TO BE WON

10

NEW

NEW

Omni gloves are available at garden centres nationwide www.omniproducts.co.nz