ISSUE 07 | SUMMER 2013-14 AND MOTHS OF NEW ZEALAND

Bring in the COPPER BUTTERFLIES Let’s plant a Copper Highway

XMASPLUS ON PG 16: GIFT IDEAS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: • Rhode Street School’s innovative approach to learning • Nodding Milkweed – A good hardy specimen for butterflies • Movie Review – Flight of the Butterflies • A butterfly garden for all creatures great and small 2 both topics are covered in this issue. So very uplifting. From the There’s more wonderful articles here for your pleasure, too. All about our EDITOR Copper butterflies and their host plants – and another on’t you just love this time type of milkweed that we Dof year? I get a thrill when should be able to establish CONTENTS I see my first Monarch, and soon in New Zealand, I hope. Cover photo: Male salustius or first Admiral and... when I hear the first It does sound an interesting Common Copper, photo by Angela Moon- Shining Cuckoo... The first daffodils... variety. We have had a lot of interest Jones. Depending on the outcome of a peer first bluebells... Well now that’s all behind shown in A. purparescens (see last review this butterfly may well become known us and we’re almost into Summer. By issue) and hope to be able to sell it in as Maui’s Copper. the time you’re reading this, Summer will the future. 2 Editorial be here! Many people are reporting sightings of 3 Who’s helping our butterflies Last week I drove from Murupara Painted Ladies (Vanessa kershawi) which and moths through the Waikaremoana Road to have been blown over from Australia Wairoa and... what a thrill! I noticed in recent months. They’ve been found 4 Rhode Street School’s innovative a dark shape fly around my car and mostly in North Island coastal areas – approach to learning thought it was a bumble bee, but it similar colourings to Monarchs (orange) 6 Nodding Milkweed wasn’t quite the right shape. And then but not much bigger than a Cabbage another and another and many, many White butterfly. At rest (which is not 7 Flight of the Butterflies more. This was over some distance – very often) you may notice that their 8 Bring in the Copper butterflies. 10 kilometres or so. hindwings are scalloped. Please continue to Let’s plant a Copper Butterfly So I stopped and report sightings in to Highway walked back along the road and there www.mb.org.nz. 10 MBNZT at work around the were two Red I was thrilled to learn country Admirals on the that my garden has been Butterfly T-shirts for sale road behind me. certified as being a good example of butterfly 12 A butterfly garden for all There were more fluttering about – so habitat. If you haven’t creatures great and small wonderful to see previously considered 14 Three Taranaki Tales so many in such a having your garden short space of time: certified, do so – it is 15 Photography Tip rewarding to have probably about 50 Painted Lady – photo by 16 Goodies to buy – Great gift all up! There must be Anna Barnett others look at your ideas for Xmas some expanses of habitat objectively host plant nearby and it was obviously and make suggestions. too early for the wasps. We’re delighted to bring you some I was excited to visit Rhode Street more of our innovative T-shirt range School recently and learn all about what (see page 11) and hope to have bags they are doing for and with butterflies available too. If you have a specific colour of species you’d like to wear, and and moths. This is a great little school it’s not shown in the range, do let us in Hamilton – read about it on page 4. know and we’ll try and get it for you. Also, when I visited Taranaki last month I Enjoy your butterflies and gardens! Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knight was astounded at what is going on there – Jacqui Knight [email protected] as far as restoring habitat for butterflies: Art Director: Kristie Rogers, [email protected] A big thank you Treasurer: Carol Stensness Please support [email protected] to our magazine Advertising: Angela Moon-Jones sponsors. We couldn’t [email protected] OUR SPONSORS do it without you. ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) 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] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ mbnzt Twitter: @NZButterflies Pinterest: pinterest.com/mbnzt

Printed in New Zealand on Cocoon 100% recycled paper using vegetable-based inks 3 Who’s helping our BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS Palmerston When she is not butterfly spotting North Emily’s other academic and professional interests include Emily Demchick freshwater invertebrates and was approached stream ecology. by the Palmerston Above: The wheelbarrows from the dedicated helpers. North City Below: The finished butterfly Environmental Milson habitat at Apollo Park, Milson. Trust last year to The butterfly habitat at Apollo conduct a survey Park, Milson, is looking even Paul Vandenberg of Monarchs Emily Demchick more spectacular following a overwintering in working bee where a crowd of 17 different parks between May and July dedicated people put in hours of work because of her background in ecology making wheelchair-friendly paths to and zoology. Emily has a particular enable improved access for everyone. interest in invertebrates and was thrilled They had nine wheelbarrows working by the opportunity. The interest in the hard out and after 4½ hours they had winter behaviour of Monarchs has been laid down over 150m of lime pathway. fostered by the butterfly gardens at Paul Vandenberg has also added a Apollo Park. Eleven parks were found to few more plants and pulled out some have Monarchs clustering. unwanted weeds. He has had tentative Butterfly counts were generally highest approval for street signage. Good on you in June but the number of parks with Paul and team! Monarchs was greatest in May which would suggest that butterflies move into larger groups as winter progresses. The Christchurch Owaka Kathryn Smith made this art PNCET is in the process of determining At Earthlore piece as part of her Pastoral how the data from the past two years Gordon has Care study. It was an ‘art can best be used with regards to been busy reflection/relaxing’ session. butterfly conservation in Palmerston building Her tutor came with a ‘box of bits’ and North and what future research may the ‘Great asked the students to create an artwork. be beneficial. Orlando’s Magical Thames Flea Circus Clinton Care made puppet show. these Eastern Black He’s finished Swallowtail butterfly construction and a wooden Comet on the Big moth by hand. Clinton Top and has can often be found the stage in the forum on finished... our website, www. Watch this monarch.org.nz/forum space!

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Rhode Street School’s INNOVATIVE APPROACH to learning

Thanks to Elrika Keyser for the story and photographs

amilton’s Rhode Street School has Han innovative approach to teaching and learning. Principal Shane Ngatai has been at the school for seven years Above: The first Monarch this year. and has a reputation for challenging the status quo and going the extra mile. its own commercial kitchen, vegetable The school is in the process of gardens, greenhouse, orchard and creating an ecological island complete chickens and now has a yearly Kai with lake, swing-bridge and shipping Festival for which the children grow container classroom. They want to plant and prepare food and share with their more plants for New Zealand butterflies community. and other as well as birds and All projects are student-led. If they other life. can dream it, they can do it. They have The Decile 3 school has a high had swan plants and Monarchs in and proportion of Maori students (76%) and around the grounds for many years and has previously made headlines for its this is how they incorporate them into innovations in dealing with poverty. Over their learning. The plants now reseed the past few years it has developed themselves each year.

Illustration by Noah

“Well first a grown up butterfly lays an egg and it goes a long way. Then the egg turns into a caterpillar and the caterpillar spins a chrysalis. The most interesting part of the Monarch butterfly is when the chrysalis transforms into a butterfly.” – Anita (8) 5

As an example, in the New Entrants room Mrs Holmes uses butterflies to teach the concept of symmetry. The children created colourful pictures of one side of a butterfly which they then folded while still wet, to create a symmetrical pattern on the other side. The six-year-olds have been learning about Monarch butterflies and using this to scaffold their writing. They enjoyed creating butterflies using brightly coloured acrylic paint. Adel: ”When the butterfly eat too much its tummy gets fat and it turns into chrysalis.” Mercy : “When you put the butterfly on your hand it will die, because you might squash it.” At age eight the children have all learned about the life cycle of a Monarch. Nephi : “The caterpillar usually shreds its skin. So anytime it eats a leaf it shreds its skin so it can grow bigger.” The school is looking forward to furthering their work with butterflies and especially to see New Zealand species thriving on their ecological island. Kings caring for

SURE TO GROW GUARANTEE Temquissit eum voluptat Anda sit que velendita id aruntmin ressed quam rem. vend ignimus. Ro For more information on b mincia doloriste verspiciat ea utterfly gardening write to: udisit ea quia dolum la qui cum dolorep Moths and Butterflies of New bo. PO Box 44100,SURE Pt Cheval TO GROW Zealand Trust ier, Auckland 1246. Phone 09 551 3383 www.monarch.org.nzGUARANTEE em. KINGS VIP CLUB uptat arunt ressed quam r Temquissit eum vol . Ro A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ta id minvend ignimus Join the Kings VIP Club to receive our butterfliesAnda sit que velendi newsletters, VIP exclusive BUTTERFLY GARDENING ciat eaqui cum dolorep KEY POINTSmincia doloriste verspi specials, bo. competitions and discount • Each speciesudisit of ea butt quia dolum la Avouchers COMPLETE GUIDE TO erfly or moth needs specific host plants. Female adults w BUTTERFLY GARDENING write to: the species that their juven ill only lay eggs on n on butterfly gardening For more informatio • Research before you begin ile forms will eat. VISIT YOUR LOCAL KINGS es of New Zealand Trust KINGS VIP planting CLUB to Moths and Butterfli determine which plants Club to receive our FORREST HILL valier, Auckland 1246. Join the Kingsto VIP use and how 1 Forrest Hill Road, Ph 080 PO Box 44100, Pt Che much space is required. sive specials, HENDERSON 0 752 687 3 newsletters, VIP exclu 224 Universal Drive, Ph Phone 09 551 338 • Insecticides harm all stages unt vouchers HOWICK 836 9635 z competitions and disco 280 Botany Road, Ph 2 www.monarch.org.n Try organic gardening of the butterfly cycle. REMUERA 73 8527 and IPM (integrated pest 236 Orakei Road, Ph 5 management). Seek out a ST LUKES 24 9400 Visit Kings Plant Barn – pick up 118 Asquith Avenue, Ph 84 dvice on the website of the Moths and Butterflie SILVERDALE 6 2141 cific s New Zealand Trust. Cnr East Coast Rd & Main H KEY POINTStterfly or moth needs spe • Sunny gardensVISIT attrac YOUR LOCAL KINGSTAKAPUNA way, Ph 426 0401 s on t the most butterflies so Ph 0800 752 687 11 Porana Road, Ph 443 2221 • Each species of bu plant nectar-rich flowers 1 Forrest Hill Road, TAKANINI adults will only lay egg FORREST HILL e, Ph 836 9635 163 Airfield Road, Ph host plants. Female and host224 plants Universal in Driv 298 8736 r juvenile forms will eat. the sunniest partHENDERSON of the gard h 273 8527 the species that thei • Choose plants that will bl en. 280 Botany Road, P u begin planting to HOWICK h 524 9400 • Research before yo ow throughout the year. Try oom at 236different Orakei times Road, P ich plants to use and h REMUERA nue, Ph 846 2141 determine wh experimenting118 Asquith with Ave OPEN 7 DAYS ed. a variety of plantsST LUKES in Hway, Ph 426 0401 much space is requir that appeal to different es of the butterfly cycle.butterfly and moth species. Cnr East Coast Rd & Ma 1Call 0800 PLANTS a FREE copy of your Butterflyst SILVERDALE • Insecticides harm all stag • 11 Porana Road, Ph 443 222 ng and IPM (integrated peProvide a sunny spotTAKAPUNA for ba 298 8736www.kings.co.nz Try organic gardeni the website of sking and163 shelter Airfield Road, Ph ). Seek out advice on for the wind and rain.TAKANINI management rflies New Zealand •Trust. Nectar plants provide the Moths and Butte so food for the adult tract the most butterflies butterflies, while host plants Sunny gardens at • rs and host plants inSome nectar plants are feed caterpillars. plant nectar-rich flowe also host plants, the garden. e.g. swan plants. OPEN 7 DAYS the sunniest part of s bloom at different time Choose plants that will Call 0800 PLANTS • ry experimenting with Garden Guide and checkthroughout the year. T outwww.kings.co.nz hat appeal to different a variety of plants t species. butterfly and moth or basking and shelter • Provide a sunny spot f for the wind and rain. food for the adult • Nectar plants provide rs. ost plants feed caterpilla butterflies, while h e also host plants, Some nectar plants ar our huge range of butterflye.g. swan plants. attracting plants.

Kings proudly supporting The Moths and Butterflies Find your nearest store at www.kings.co.nz of New Zealand Trust 6 Nodding Milkweed by Adam Browne (Asclepias glaucescens)

his milkweed is a native of Mexico Monarch caterpillars love to munch root material into my established Tbut has been the most persistently on this milkweed and the butterflies are garden for older milkweeds and growing milkweed I’ve had. For not shy to lay eggs all over it once it’s this one somehow survived quite the ten years or so I’ve had it it’s been located, but this milkweed seems happily despite being at nature’s been growing in the same medium- to thrive on being eaten down to the whim. It seems some plants just have sized pot as I neglected to care for dirt, neglected by that knack of never it assuming it would die due to its man (me) and just giving up no matter scraggy appearance in its early days. happily re-grows what gets thrown at Having had two other milkweeds from its rhizome them. This milkweed die out completely on me (Desert and below the soil surface reminds me of that Indian milkweeds) I assumed this one relatively quickly. It weed mentality. would be next as tropical country does go dormant (or Nodding milkweed milkweeds have largely been untested at least slows down gets its name from in NZ. That was until it started getting considerably) in its small bunches quite big and then flowered rather winter so expect that of flowers that bob beautifully so this winter I re-potted it to happen if you try to up and down in the into a more appropriately larger 40 litre grow it. summer breeze. Bees container. Several of my other love spending time Looking at its root system when I milkweeds have proven to be quite scraping out every last millimetre of re-potted it confirmed my suspicion vulnerable to slugs, snails, drought, nectar and pollen but alas I anticipate that it was just container-bound as saturation etc when very young so I two genetically separate plants are the root system was quite thick and always grow them in pots for the first needed to get seed pods to form as needed to expand. The at times paltry few years. This Nodding Milkweed has this milkweed also appears to be self growth on the surface can be quite been no exception to that rule except incompatible fertilisation wise. deceptive. that I accidentally transplanted some Please correct me if I’m wrong! 7 FLIGHTFLIGHT ofof thethe ButterfliesButterflies ere’s something available to them Hvery exciting... to ensure that the We were in Montreal next year an amazing footage is really movie is coming dramatic. It’s and went to see it. It to New Zealand. A educational, but was enthralling. The Canadian epic (even at the same time photography was amazing if it is short), it tells it’s entertaining. and the film really two stories: that of a And of course, Monarch butterfly, its when it comes informative about the life life history and journey here, because of the Monarch. It would be to its overwintering of our love affair wonderful if the film could site in Mexico, and with Monarch intertwined with that butterflies, it’s be brought to New Zealand. narrative the story of Dr going to be a We are happy to support Fred Urquhart and how, huge hit here. We any efforts to do this. through his persistence imagine that most over many years, he primary schools – Boyd and Colleen finally discovered the will want to take Squires, Auckland overwintering sites groups to see the in the mountains of film. It will be even Mexico. Urquhart more meaningful finally worked out to us because of how he could tag our relationship the Monarchs to find with Monarch out where they were butterflies. No going and then built up garden centre large teams of citizen in the USA or scientists to help track the beautiful Canada would sell as much milkweed orange and black butterflies. as we do (of swan plant) here in NZ. The film will have you mesmerised. While we go out of our way to help Produced for the giant screen by Monarch butterflies many people “We’ve been twice! Canadian company SK Films, it will in North America hardly give them This film is excellent only be shown on the big screen at a thought, possibly couldn’t even Event Cinemas in Auckland, but it is identify them: in North America garden – entertainment and scheduled to be here next year – and centres need to be ‘specialists’ to have educational in a single 45 you get to hear about it first! We will be milkweed on sale. minute presentation. working with Event Cinemas to ensure “It is a story about human The discovery of where the that every school, and every gardening persistence, when others would have club, and everyone who loves Nature, given up years earlier,” said Ellen. butterflies went each year, knows that the film is coming. “It’s also a story about the wonders now a matter of scientific Ellen saw the movie in Melbourne of the natural world. The butterflies knowledge, is told in an easily where it has been showing in a cinema deserve credit for their endurance in understood re-enactment attached to the Museum since March. the face of overwhelming obstacles. “It was our first 3D movie. The The magnitude of the migration is that soon has the viewer IMAX theatre screen was enormous, mind boggling, and even the children thoroughly involved. The compared with normal movie screens. in the theatre were stunned into silent children enjoyed the realism The forest scenes with millions of appreciation.” butterflies in flight were so realistic that “We left feeling grateful that we have of 3D, often standing and you wanted to put your hands out to been able to witness such wonders reaching out to touch the catch the butterflies!” here on the other side of the world.” Monarchs as they appeared Tony and his family saw it in We know that you won’t be to flutter within inches of the Vancouver. “We all loved it,” he said. disappointed when you see the film. “It was informative and yet kept We will bring you more information in viewers. I found it difficult our littlies enthralled the whole 45 our next magazine and email updates not to do likewise. minutes.” about its scheduled arrival – and Thoroughly recommended Others who have seen the film hopefully some special offers. We will to all members, families say that the visuals are phenomenal. also put updates on our website, The producers have used every tool www.monarch.org.nz. and friends irrespective of your depth of butterfly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flightofthebutterflies Twitter: @FOButterflies knowledge.” Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fobutterflies/ – David Jones, Wellington Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/fobutterflies 8

BRING IN THE COPPER BUTTERFLIES Let’s plant a Copper Butterfly Highway Story and photos by Jane Carver

any moons ago when I was a child, Mour NZ Common Copper butterflies were numerous and I would see them almost every day in central Wellington where I grew up. Now I get very excited if I see a Common Copper in my urban Palmerston North garden, and I have chased a few away with my sheer enthusiasm to keep their company. It was after one such session of chasing a Copper butterfly around the garden, camera in hand, that I made Above: Female the decision to plant Common Copper. far more host plants Right: astonii for their larvae in the hope that I would see so many Copper butterflies that I would no longer feel compelled to harass each individual upon its arrival and would hopefully become blasé about them. Muehlenbeckia is the host plant of 9 our Copper butterfly group, and there M. astonii is This is a semi- is surely room in every garden to plant native to the vigorous grower at least one. Most of our New Zealand Cook Strait area and will cover a Copper butterflies don’t travel more where it grows couple of metres than 50 metres or so from their host in wind-blown of ground in a plants, so we ALL need to plant one or tight mounds few short years two Muehlenbeckia in order to make a that resist all the forming a lovely Copper butterfly highway that stretches salt-laden foul low dense mat from beach and forest to car-park gales that the on which you can and townhouse. Even if you live in an straits can throw show off other apartment with no garden at all, you may at them. If it can plants to best have a tiny balcony on which you can grow in Cook effect. put a pot of Muehlenbeckia. Strait it can grow Although I had planted a large M. astonii on our at your place. Looking for a tough wind Muehlenbeckia is found naturally in dry back section purely because it was on hardy hedge to shelter other plants? riverbeds and rocky areas in the South my top ten all time favourite plants. I love This is it! Island and lower North Island it will grow its cloud-like fluffy appearance when M. axillaris is a dense groundcover in nearly all urban garden situations mature, and with wiry stems throughout the country that get some can’t resist its and tiny dark sun, and will even thrive in a pot. It is not quirky angular green leaves. fussy about great soil and will grow in purplish stems Commonly your poorest ground. seen at their called Pohuehue, M. complexa is a more vigorous and best in winter or wire vine, adventurous vine which will scramble up when most Muehlenbeckia walls and down banks and if you have a of the leaves axillaris will difficult area to cover this plant might be vanish. This flower profusely your best friend. plant has the during summer M. australis is a natural local if you are most endearing with masses in the Auckland/Waitakere area. small green of tiny cream If you want to bring some Copper heart shaped flowers followed butterflies into your garden, then leaves. Its tiny by loads of small get planting this interesting group of almost insignificant flowers are followed white opaque fruit. It spreads along the plants and let’s try and make Common by tiny white fruits that are delicious if ground forming a dense groundcover Coppers, once again ‘common’ you have the patience to collect some. which makes an excellent green carpet. in town.

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A Go Gardening gift card can be used to buy everything from plants to pots to giftware to garden tools and accessories. Available from 170+ Go Gardening retailers nationwide and online at www.gardengiftcards.co.nz 10 MBNZT at work around the country Website Auckland There are many improvements and Jacqui Knight (far right) has been enhancements going on to the website, at Palmer’s Planet, Albany on but many are not evident to the casual several occasions talking with observer. The forum runs more smoothly, gardeners about butterflies. She photographs now appear in forum said it was great to talk to members threads, and soon we will be uploading and non-members. Some people the data we have on other species have no idea of what butterflies are enabling people to find host plants and found in NZ and are excited to hear identify our species much more easily. what they can do to help. www.nzbutterflies.org.nz

Tauranga on you Mary, and your helpers. Napier Mary Parkinson has Norm Twigge went searching and Jacqui’s mobile phone rings. It is been at Palmers found a Painted Lady... from which someone who has hungry caterpillars Garden Centre, he was hoping to breed. For a and no plants. Thanks to mobile Bethlehem talking while he thought his Painted Lady technology she is able to match about butterflies was a Painted Lad! up the person with someone in the and has had two general area who has food to spare. successful displays Nelson Sometimes it’s a phone call, sometimes at Te Puna Quarry Chrissie Ward is co-ordinating the it’s an email and at other times people Park, the Quarryfest MBNZT stand at the Growables in leave requests on the internet. Their (3 November) and the Mary Parkinson Nelson on Sunday, 17 November. needs are usually satisfied within earlier Artfest. Good Good one Chrissie. 24 hours. BUTTERFLY T-SHIRTS FOR SALE After several years of requests we can Admiral, the green Puriri Moth, Copper the polo style, is available in six now reveal the latest designs in our or Forest Ringlet. Other species will be colourways: white, black, grey marle, T-shirt collection. They’re awesome, introduced on demand. The women’s red, green, navy. very colourful and there’s now a wide basic tee comes in nine different colours. Prices on our shirts are from $30.00 range of styles and colours to choose They are 100% combed cotton and very upwards and should be ordered on from. See the artist’s impression (below) comfortable to wear, with the round neck our on-line store www.nzbutterflies. or the website www.nzbutterflies. and short sleeves. printmighty.co.nz – or on the shop via printmighty.co.nz for more details. The polo style has the collar and our website. We will add more designs All shirts bear the slogan ‘Flowers that placket opening and is slightly heavier and garments (such as bags and Fly’ and our website url, and you can weight, made from 100% cotton in a caps) on demand – please contact choose a different species of butterfly to jersey knit. The men’s tee is a heavier [email protected] if you would like support: Monarch, Red Admiral, Yellow quality 100% cotton fabric and like to see other lines. 11

Peter Worsp (right) from Terraviva Home and Gardens, Wairakei Road, Christchurch presented Noel Batstone of Redwood Primary School with four swan plants, free of charge to aid the school and its many caterpillars. Thanks Terraviva Nationwide There have been many sightings of Christchurch Ellerslie International Flower Show next Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) Redwood Primary School had three Feburary and has asked if the MBNZT butterflies over the past few months, swan plants covered in aphids and a will help them by providing an attraction. being blown over the Tasman on couple of dozen caterpillars. Thanks The show runs over five days. Bruce the extraordinary winds. These to Terraviva Garden Centre they have Smith has offered to co-ordinate a butterflies are common in Australia been gifted some plants to go on with display depending on enough volunteers – it is reported that in the late 1800s and have received advice on how to stepping up to help organise and be there were so many migrating on deal with aphids. See the leaflet on our there supervising little hands for half- one occasion that railway engines website, under Species/Pests/Aphids. day stints over the course of the show. couldn’t get traction on railway The Canterbury Horticulture Society If you can help, please contact Bruce on tracks! is organising a Kidzone area at the (03) 355-2851. ENCOURAGE BUTTERFLIES into your garden Buy our latest catalogue for just $5.00, choose from a variety of seeds that the butterfl ies will just love and we’ll send you TWO FREE PACKETS of butterfl y friendly seeds. Just quote “KINGS FOR BUTTERFLIES” PO Box 283 Katikati 3166 Ph: 07 549 3409 Fax: 07 549 3408

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A BUTTERFLY GARDEN for all creatures great and small

Photos by Angela Moon-Jones

BNZT founding trustee Jacqui wildflowers or a plan was in order MKnight is the latest applicant to the flit of an so she downloaded a have her garden or habitat certified. uncommon bird photo of the property She has been interested in Monarch or ,” she using Google maps butterflies for many years but other said. and used that as her species of are a more recent Her interest was plan, creating more innovation. further stimulated informal paths and “My mother taught my brothers and when she even more garden. me a lot about nature and gardening became a mother There was a north- sixty or so years ago, and the interest herself, finding facing dry area against has grown into a passion. I get a it rewarding a fence: ideal for great amount of pleasure being in exploring plants that didn’t need the outdoors... just from a glimpse of nature with her water such as tropical sons... and now milkweed and nectar grandchildren. When she moved to sources like African daisies, Gazanias, Blockhouse Bay in Auckland three years Arctotis and marigolds. ago, to a small bungalow with a “Then there is an area which I’m garden that hadn’t had a lot of developing for natives and I’m trying to attention for some years, she recycle as much as my grey water as I immediately saw a vision of can,” she said. “I’m really interested a special butterfly garden. in xeroscaping – reducing the “I just loved the garden’s dependence on added challenge! Some water.” areas just needed The habitat was recently taming and there approved by long-term was so much member and former potential to turn trustee, Beverley weeds into mulch Sinclair, and Angela or compost.” Moon-Jones. Beverley From previous noted that a new butterfly- experience she knew that shaped garden has been planted 13

out in colourful nectar sources to attract motels’ (for skinks and hedgehogs etc) free environment,” said Beverley. “It is butterflies and bees. accommodate garden waste. a credit to her for the huge amount she “As the plants are self seeding it will “I’m interested in nectar plants and has achieved in the time since she has need little attention apart from weeding,” not fussed about weeds growing if lived there.” Beverley noted. “Four types of milkweed they provide nectar,” said Jacqui. “It’s a delightful garden full of fun plants grow throughout the property “There are two points which fascinate and humour,” added Angela. “Her and some are planted beside Buddleias me about nectar sources: what works passion clearly shows through with and other shrubs to offer protection for in one garden may not be good in fun butterfly signs, cheerful butterfly caterpillars from wasps.” another – so much can depend on what ornaments and a colourful butterfly- Nettles for Admirals, and host plants else is flowering nearby. And the best shaped garden offering nectar. A perfect for Blues, Coppers, Magpie Moths and nectar plants are those that are closest example to inspire many other backyard Cabbage Whites: the garden will be to weeds and not the latest designer conservationists to create their own a hive of activity in the summer. The plants as they have so often had the butterfly habitats and enjoy nature at property is sheltered on most sides nectar bred out of them, sad to say. Our its best.” by either trees or fences and a green- pollinator insects are really missing out.” Although it’s not a public space, house is also used for the protection “Jacqui is continually adding more Jacqui welcomes visitors to her of caterpillars from predators and gardens to her property and has made garden, by appointment, especially parasites. A compost bin plus ‘wildlife an ideal haven for wildlife in a chemical- school groups. 14 THREE TARANAKI Tales John Real Smith, from Opunake approached us some months ago with the idea of creating a habitat for a Billion Butterflies. “The Opunake Butterfly Club came about after visiting the bank manager at ANZ. He had just given us the low down on our mortgage: I thought there must be a better way to enrich John Real Smith our lives without money,” he said. Since then, John has completed a Create Butterfly Habitat course, and has received his certificate. He’s now liaising with the South Taranaki District Council about an area in King Street Sportswood Primary School which is an overwintering colony. John said “The King of Butterflies in Opunake is Rex Langton who planted swan plants outside his property on the lakeside walkway. The Queen Butterfly Claire lives upstream from the lake on the edge of the butterflies’ wintering site. Tall Canadian Pine trees next to the Waiau River shelter them from the southwest and northeast winds. Butterfly Princes and Princesses walk Top right: Spotswood Primary School in New the streets, proud of their prominence. Plymouth love their Monarchs. Children are talking butterflies. Opunake Above: They created a colourful enviroschool High School pupils have germinated swan sign. Each class made one letter, and Mrs plants as part of their Horticulture course. Smythe’s class, passionate about butterflies, Butterflies featured in ‘The Hobbit’ movie. used the Monarch as their symbol. Everywhere you go, butterflies are Right: The children gather around their surviving swan plant. appearing for real or as souvenirs and bookmarks. The intention is to have tourists visit Taranaki and Opunake to see the butterflies. We are incorporating the concept of one square metre Everybody who you talk to has had a butterfly experience and of garden being swan plants. That will make a significant it just clicks with them. The message has travelled by word of difference. Recycling Anchor milk cartons from Sugar Juice mouth, the internet, and by planting a seed. Cafe containing a mixture of Taranaki soil, river sand and swan plants: Milk Weed. Take-Away. Winter has been a great time to get organised with all the materials and to learn as much as possible about Monarch butterflies. Becoming a new member of the MBNZT has made the whole exercise that much more exciting; knowing that there is a larger support network to discuss ideas. The beauty of the idea is that it is free. Anyone visiting Opunake is welcome to catch us enjoying our environment, working and playing next to the river, the lake, ocean and Mount Taranaki.”

Glenn Hansen, Community Development Advisor at the South Taranaki District Council is working with a group responsible for a major clean up and re-establishment of Soldiers Park in Eltham. They want to create an area for swan plants so that the local school children can see Monarch butterflies, and have received suggestions from the MBNZT. 15 Photography Tip 1 Photographs of different stages of butterflies can be made really interesting. The close up of the chrysalis (1) was taken with an iPhone! The dew was still on it. Have fun with a macro setting to get a completely different slant on your insects! 2 Another photo shows several different Monarch caterpillars (2) in various instars (or stages) plus a pupa.

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DID YOU KNOW? The one photographed above (1) is will have a line dissecting it if the A male Monarch butterfly (3) is identified a male. If you look at the pupa closely Monarch is a female as shown in the by the two scent pouches on its you can see a series of circles called close-up (5). If there is no line, its a hindwings which don’t appear on the abdominal sternites. You will also see male! two lines of black dots extending down females (4). Females also have thicker 1. Male pupa. 2. Monarch caterpillars; veins on their wings. But did you know from the cremaster (the stem on which 3. Male Monarch by Darren Gedye; that you can sex the chrysalis before a the chrysalis hangs). The ring next to the 4. Female Monarch by Darren Gedye; Monarch butterfly comes out? 9th sternite, just below the black dots, 5. Female pupa by Edith Smith. GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR XMAS Your purchase supports the Moths GOODIES TO BUY and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust Caterpillar castles Calendar This is what you need Stunning photographs and information to protect your Monarch about NZ’s butterflies and moths. Each caterpillars. month has a full A4 page, showing Five sides have fine holidays and with room to write special mesh to promote healthy appointments. The 2014 calendar is now air flow. One clear vinyl available – get them now while there are full side window for easy some left. Each calendar comes with viewing of contents. its own Wingspan May 2014 20-27 mm

Large protected, zippered envelope sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday saTurday Common Blue 1 2 3 Zizina otis labradus Photograph by Cathy Casey This little butterfly is possibly one of our most opening for easy access. ready to common butterflies, frequenting roadsides, riverbeds, lakesides, grasslands and gardens, but its small size and ground level flight means it is often overlooked. The foodplants 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 include legumes, lotus and trefoils and several clovers, so this little butterfly has been given a reputation as a minor pest of pastures and Proven design used post to clovers. An Australian butterfly, the species gained a foothold in NZ when the European settlers cleared forests and established Start of Term 2 farming practices and pastures. The male of the species exhibits a brilliant blue hue on its 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 upper surface, while the female is a somewhat to raise thousands of friends drab slate-grey colouring.

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You can order items by sending your order and cheque payment to: TO PLACE MBNZT, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246 Or pay by internet banking into the MBNZT account – Kiwibank 38-9009-0654693-00 and send an AN ORDER email to [email protected] with details of your order, your name and delivery address.