ISSUE 19 | SUMMER 2016-2017 Valuable $100 MOTH ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: AWARD WINNER | RAE HERD REMEMBERED | WHAT TO DO ABOUT WASPS 2 lowest numbers ever this past summer. Their members are involved in From the “Big Butterfly Counts” each summer. Sadly, due to lack of EDITOR resources we have had to postpone our Big s I write I have been Backyard Butterfly Count reviewing internet-based until 2018. We believe CONTENTS A posts from Monarch Watch (USA) that we will be better able to promote Cover photo: Brian Patrick and Butterfly Conservation (UK). Both the BBBC to non-members, raising organisations express alarm at what awareness of our organisation at 2 is happening with the world’s butterfly the same time, if we have enough Editorial populations. support and funding. 3 In North America it’s the decline in However, we have great news as Sir Winston Churchill natural habitat along the migration we put this issue together: Lottery Fellowship path for monarchs making their way Environment & Heritage have helped from Canada to their overwintering with funds for the Forest Ringlet 4 The $100 MOTH habitat in Mexico. In Britain they Project which will begin this summer. report that once familiar species We are keen to find out why this 5 Moth Net such as the gatekeeper, comma and beautiful endemic butterfly, the small copper have recorded their only one of its species, is in serious 6 Spring Shows decline. You will find more about this project on the following pages. 7 Remembering Rae Herd You’ll find out about the $100 moth, the beautiful displays at our Spring 8-9 Butterfly Gardening Shows (see picture). We share sad Aotearoa news about the loss of member Rae Herd and there’s a fascinating series 10-11 Breeding Silkworms of photos of beautiful silk worms… but wait there’s more. 12 Inspector Insector If you raise monarchs you’ll be dismayed to read about the latest wasp 13 Flight of the Butterflies which has arrived in NZ (and how you can protect your caterpillars from it), 14 Saving The Forest Ringlet and another disease which can wipe out hundreds of caterpillars almost 15 Did You Know? overnight. We have some practical tips for you. And on a happier note, 16 Shop we have some wonderful and highly original gift suggestions for this time of the year. I’m sure you’ll find the summer issue of our magazine as useful and interesting as earlier ones. Patron: Sir Robert Harvey, KNZM, QSO A Big Thank you to our Sponsors Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knight Platinum Sponsors [email protected] Graphic Designer: Jai Pancha, [email protected] Treasurer: Carol Stensness [email protected] Advertising: Angela Moon-Jones [email protected] ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) Silver Sponsors ISSN 2324-2000 (Online) Published by: Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, PO Box 44100 Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246 www.nzbutterflies.org.nz [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/mbnzt Magazine Sponsors mbnztorg pinterest.com/mbnzt mothsandbutterfliesnztrust Printed in New Zealand on Cocoon 100% Gubba recycled paper using vegetable-based inks WINSTON CHURCHILL 3 acqui Knight, founder of the Zealanders to travel overseas, MBNZT, has been awarded a to learn from others and study FELLOWSHIP J grant from The Winston Churchill topics that will help them to Memorial Trust to travel to North America increase their contribution to the and investigate conservation measures community, and advance their trade, being put in place for the monarch industry, profession or business. butterfly: educational initiatives, habitat Fellows return to New Zealand protection, addressing water quality and with inspiration, new networks, conservation etc. and knowledge that supports and The fellowship was created was develops their leadership skills within established in 1965 at the time of Sir their field of interest. Winston’s death. He believed that Jacqui has had a lifelong interest in world peace and greater international butterflies – especially the monarch understanding could – and is particularly be promoted through concerned at how the ordinary people travelling habitat in Mexico and to other countries and numbers migrating have experiencing other declined over the years. cultures. Sir Winston New Zealanders from all was known to have sectors, regions, ethnicities been passionate about and cultures are invited to butterflies and found apply for a fellowship. them an ideal way Since it was established to relax. Each year by awarding about 900 Fellowships and learning Churchill Fellowships, the WCMT opportunities have been awarded to provides ordinary New Zealanders New Zealanders. More information with extraordinary opportunities. about this opportunity can be found Churchill Fellowships assist New on www.communitymatters.govt.nz. EVERY BIT EXTRAORDINARY 4 and fortunately comes readily to light. I was able to show students from schools all over the South Island recently at a THE $100 Landcare Research workshop at Orokonui Sanctuary, part of the MothNet programme, which aims to monitor ecosystem health in our forests using data from the light trapping of moths. It is an ambitious but realistic programme that was kicked off at MOTH Orokonui in late October by By Brian Patrick – along with a compelling story leader Dr Barbara Anderson. n 1992, as the Department of and justification. A few weeks later The genus Declana (Family Conservation’s Advisory Scientist for security staff from the Reserve bank Geometridae: Ennominae) contains IOtago Conservancy, I was asked by arrived in my office with the plates in at least twelve species, all endemic the Reserve Bank to nominate an animal a suitcase securely attached to their to NZ. Ten of them are described to complement wrist. along with at least two undescribed the mōhua - The South Island species. Nelson-based John yellowhead on zebra moth is Dugdale, retired Landcare Research the new $100 widespread over moth taxonomist, is currently revising note. What an both Stewart and the the genus. opportunity I was South Island where It is a stunning genus of moths given! it lives in lowland to with one day-flying orange species Maybe they montane moist forest in the alpine zone (D. glacialis), one were thinking of up to 600 metres. extremely variable and common a lizard or bat but I showed my bias Its cryptic larvae, which when species found nationwide (D. in putting forward a moth, which like curled up resemble bird dropping, floccosa) that has adapted to the mōhua (yellowhead) was confined feed exclusively on Pseudopanax modified environments and has to the South Island forests. I supplied particularly three-finger P. colensoi polyphagous larvae, and many other an image of the gorgeous South and five-finger P. arboreum. The attractive species specialised to Island zebra moth – Declana egregia adult moth is stunning in appearance certain species of our flora. Encourage Declans egregia at rest Brian Patrick into your garden Check out our BUTTERFLY BEAUTIES selection or choose from a variety of seeds that the butterflies will just love. [email protected] 0800 GERMINATE www.kingsseeds.co.nz D. egregia larva photo by Brian Patrick elements of our biodiversity. We 5 have good knowledge of both their connections with the native flora and Learning about different landscapes and our special ecosystems nationwide.” Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is the third largest group of insects MOTHS in NZ with over 2000 known species. 92% of NZ’s moths are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else in the world. Their largely nocturnal behaviour means moths are often overlooked. Their short life-cycle and good mobility mean their distributions often show clear geographic relationships with measurable environmental factors. Despite the many unique and intriguing moth species in NZ there is only a small number of professional lepidopterists. Accordingly, we know relatively little about the distribution of moths, moth ecology or the potential impacts of artificial light on them. Each species has specific food and environmental requirements which it needs to survive. Important environmental factors for moths are food-plants, nectar sources, temperature, humidity, and wind speed. MothNet is based at Orokonui Ecosanctuary 20 kms north of Dunedin, where 307 hectares of coastal Otago forest has been protected from predators. Pests have been removed, habitat Tmetolophota propria enhanced with weed control Ʃ ata Proteuxoa sp. Tmetolophota semivi and planting and many rare Ɵ s Tmetolophota atristriga and endangered species of Meterana meyricci Ɵ s Tmetolophota steropas Meterana ochthis Ɵ s Ɵ ca caerulea flora and fauna introduced. Physe Homohadena for Tmetolophota purdii Ɵ pata s Ɵ sƟ Meterana s The project has some Tmetolophota acon Meterana alcyone Meterana tartarea Tmetolophota unica Nyctemera annulata excellent resources on coeleno osa Erebidae Meterana Meterana viƟ Geometridae their website, including Meterana diatmeta Rhapsa scotosialis Anachloris suboch Persectania aversa raria MeteranaAustrocidaria decorata cedrinod four publications in English Meterana coeleno es Story By Jacqui Knight & Asaphodes abrogata Elvia glaucata Meterana exquisita and whānau are Austrocidaria gobiata and Te Reo identifying moths Helas Meterana grandiosa Epicyme rubropunctaria Ɵ a cinerearia Photos: Sharon Pendlebury Asaphodes aegro ta given the skills, Austrocidaria paro of the South Island. They ra Helas Asaphodes chlamydo Epyaxa lucidata Ɵ a corcularia ta Declana junc othNet is an exciting project tools and Homodo intend to get these distributed Ɵ linea Ɵ s megaspilata Austrocidaria simila Epyaxa rosearia ta funded by a grant from Ministry connections Declana leptomera to every school around the Asaphodes clarata Gellonia dejectaria Gellonia pannularia Declana of Business, Innovation and to run a Asaphodes prasinias occosa South Island and then the Helas Ɵ a plumbea Helas Ɵ a chris M Ɵ nae Employment under Curious Minds, a nationally NoctuidaeDeclana toreuta rest of the country. Look here Hydriomena deltoid Graphania phricias Graphania lignana ata BitylaHorisme de gurata suppressaria programme encouraging and enabling significant AgroƟ s admiraƟ onis for the resources.