1ISSUE 16 | AUTUMN 2016

Wonderful Work By HONSHU WHITE ADMIRAL

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: VISITOR FROM JAPAN | NOTABLE NOTOREAS | CHRISTCHURCH BUTTERFLY DAZE 2 our other butterflies, moths and insect life in general. It From the is so valuable that we can so easily contribute to citizen science – and it’s a real thrill, too, when one of your tagged Editor monarchs is spotted! There are still many people hat an amazing who think that you plant summer! a swan plant and you CONTENTS WI have just returned from a have ideal butterfly habitat. Not so! Cover photo: Honshu white admiral by whirlwind tour with two Americans very Permaculture (or sustainable agriculture) Quentin Paynter interested in monarch butterflies (in has huge benefits for gardening and some tips for butterflies are shared in our 2 Editorial particular). They were amazed at how many they saw – but also how few other regular Gardening feature. I hope you 3 Honshu White Admiral butterflies there were. I was able to show enjoy this issue of BUTTERFLIES. Update them one red admiral and they released yellows in my garden. You’ll read more 4-5 Notoreas moths about it inside. We have exciting news to relate about 6 Guest Editorial: a Japanese swallowtail and the Honshu Martin Warren white admiral in this issue. Also the Butterfly Conservation outcome of our Big Backyard Butterfly Count and an update on the exquisite 7 Japanese swallowtail Notoreas moth. 8-9 On the administrative side, meet our Butterfly Daze, latest trustee, Joan Fairhall. We will Christchurch be holding our AGM later this month Annual General Meeting in Christchurch and we do hope that we get to see many of our Cantabrian 10 Big Backyard Butterfly Count members come along. Results We do urge you, as well, to think about tagging your monarch butterflies this 11 Gardening: Permaculture autumn. It is so important to find out what our monarchs are doing and the 12 On the Case environmental factors that are affecting with Inspector Insector their survival will also have a bearing on 13 MBNZT Matters 14 Creative Crew from Chicago Forest Ringlet Have you (or anyone you know) seen a forest ringlet? 15 Photography Tip Forest ringlets are NZ’s unique butterfly that is with Angela Moon-Jones endangered – quickly disappearing. Anyone who Did You Know has seen it is asked to report the sighting or sightings to www.mb.org.nz so they can be documented. People 16 From Our Shop in places like the Coromandel or Great Barrier Island would be more likely to see this quick-flying butterfly high in forest glades. If you see them nectaring we’d love to know the name of the flowering Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knight shrub, or see a photo of it. Please log them in to www.mb.org.nz [email protected] Art Director: Jai Pancha, [email protected] Treasurer: Carol Stensness A big thank you [email protected] Please support Advertising: Angela Moon-Jones to our magazine [email protected] sponsors. We couldn’t ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) our Sponsors ISSN 2324-2000 (Online) do it without you. 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 Instagram: http://instagram.com/ nzbutterfliesandmoths/ Printed in New Zealand on Cocoon 100% recycled paper using vegetable-based inks 3

Adult Honshu white admiral Top right: egg Below: first instar larva on leaf tip Photos Quentin Paynter

cannot be certain they have successfully Japan, which is when butterflies emerge established’. in lowland sites there. It shows we Honshu “The species needs to have released butterflies at just the right time successfully overwintered,” he said “and last year.” we were concerned that conditions in Quentin and Hugh Gourlay visited the this country with our generally milder Waikato release site again in December White winters (than Japan) might not be ideal and found a number of eggs and first for diapausing larvae.” instar larvae. It was with a little trepidation that he “Eggs and larvae were not that hard Admiral returned to the Waikato release site this to find, but they are still quite thin on spring. the ground – diluted by the vast amount “We were limited to releasing newly of honeysuckle present. They probably emerged adult butterflies because of aren’t common enough to consider Update the difficulty we had rearing them in collecting and redistributing larvae to containment where conditions were not other sites yet,” Quentin said. he Honshu white admiral butterfly suitable for their courtship flight and “The presence of eggs and larvae (Limenitis glorifica) has been mating,” said Quentin. “It was a bit of several hundred metres from the release Tobserved in good numbers a long shot because we were relying site shows that butterflies have clearly on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera on them finding a mate and producing begun dispersing away”, added Hugh, japonica) at its Waikato release site. This offspring when we could only release adding that “they could disperse rapidly vigorous vine is now a widespread weed small numbers.” because they are strong fliers and there in both the North and South Islands and The results have been good, though. It is a vast amount of honeysuckle in the biological control is the only reasonable is apparent that larvae did successfully area.” option left to reduce its prevalence. overwinter as Quentin saw several adult Larvae were also released at a Quentin Paynter from Landcare butterflies at the Waikato release site this second site. He urges folk to be on the Research who has been leading the November, despite relatively cool and lookout and would welcome reports of project commented last year that ‘even windy conditions. sightings. Any sightings can be added at though they reproduced last summer, we “November is equivalent to May in www.mb.org.nz. 4 THELife EDGE on Story and photographs by Brian Patrick he discovery and thrill of finding the first day-flying moth in T the genus Notoreas fell to the extraordinary clergyman William Colenso in Hawkes Bay. What Francis Walker described in 1863 as Notoreas perornata was probably found somewhere in inland Hawkes Bay or Taupo where Colenso regularly travelled as part of his parish. Colenso (1811-1899) was an interesting and at times controversial character who among many notable achievements, wrote about the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi from first- hand experience. He was the first European to discover moa bones and research their significance. He also made impressive collections of plants and described many new species, collected insects and was the first person to collect boulder copper butterflies. He served in local and central government and corresponded with a great many international scientists. In total he published 104 articles in the Transactions of the NZ Institute on diverse subjects in natural history and culture. What’s in a name? Notoreas moths belong to the large family Geometridae which is NZ’s most diverse. The name Notoreas, a word of Greek derivation, alludes to their southern hemisphere distribution. There are at least 30 species of them, all endemic to NZ - the number is Notoreas casanova on Tiwai Spit, Southland, amongst its larval approximate as more have been hostplant Pimelea lyallii, also confined to this section of coastline. discovered in recent times. We are still working on their classification. This together when at rest for longer periods. The adult moths reciprocate their host by is a group of colourful moths that fly They are found from coastal and alpine pollinating the sweet-scented flowers. by day and hold important clues to Stewart Island, throughout the South Typically the larvae of the various our geological history. They also act Island (but local) where most species Notoreas moths are uniform in as an indicator of the health of our reside, to the North Island where just appearance, being a pinkish-purple environment from the coastal edge three species, one of them widely colour with a herringbone dorsal pattern through inland grasslands and riverbeds distributed, live. of various colours including black, white to the high alpine zone, showing it to be Like many of our moths they are fussy or green. under increasing threat even in remote feeders as larvae, depending on just The female Notoreas moth has a places and at higher altitudes. one family of plants for their life cycle. well-developed ovipositor to position The host plants all belong to the family eggs deep inside the plant, hidden and Life history Thymelaeaceae, of which NZ has just crowded among developing buds of the They are extremely active and elusive two genera - Pimelea and Kelleria. Both host-plant, from which the larvae emerge with wings vibrating rapidly even when contain woody-stemmed plants that can and begin boring into the fresh leaves. pausing on bare ground to sunbathe, vary from diminutive sprawling shrubs This leaf-mining behaviour is unknown or on the flowers of their preferred to small trees. All nine Kelleria species, in other geometrid moths. In succeeding foodplants. They are always ready to along with many of the lower-growing developmental stages, the larvae take off at the slightest disturbance. As shrub and sub-shrub Pimelea species, greedily devour the buds and leaves. with butterflies, they hold their wings are hosts to the various Notoreas larvae. Larger larvae are usually found under 5

Pimelea foodplant for Notoreas

trailing mats of stems and leaves close appropriate monitoring programmes activities continue to degrade their to the ground. The pupa is contained in as unfortunately the Notoreas moths habitats, and isolate and extinguish a loose cocoon of soil and silk under the highlight the sad state of conservation populations. food plant. on our coastline, inland grasslands and In 2010 Robert Hoare and I described For coastal species, in warmer parts alpine zone. Notoreas casanova from several of NZ, adults emerge twice a year from It can be quite a challenge to find populations I had discovered around September to November and then again Notoreas in the field. The distinct southern Southland close to where in March to April. In alpine areas and seasonality of their life cycles, and the I grew up in Invercargill. I found it in cooler parts of NZ the norm is only one strictly localised distribution, dependent such wonderful places as Tiwai Spit, generation a year. on a few plants, makes them difficult Fortrose Spit and the Three Sisters sand to discover. It may seem surprising dune. In contrast to many other coastal Conservation that among such conspicuous moths populations of Notoreas, N. casanova More survey work is required in almost new species and new populations of appears to be in no immediate danger of all areas to attempt to extend known Notoreas continue to be discovered. extinction. distributions of Notoreas moths and It is obvious that the fate of these The pretty adults emerge between perhaps find new species. Keeping an moths is hugely dependent on the state October and April and feed on the eye on these localised and vulnerable of their habitats and larval hostplants. flowers of various low-growing herbs and populations is an ongoing but rewarding The coastal and inland lowland species the sprawling Pimelea lyallii, their larval job. Local botanists and entomologists are mostly in serious trouble as the hostplant. They fly low to the ground need to get together to design impact of a large range of human avoiding the often windy conditions of their sandy and stony habitat. Biogeography It is a thrill to find them in the field in Day-flying geometrid moths are an place of highest diversity for these such special wild places as Tiwai Spit important component of the NZ plants worldwide; a genus broadly where so many local endemic plants mix insect fauna distributed from Borneo to Adams with other indigenous plants and insects with at least 82 species mainly in Island in our Sub-Antarctic. that are characteristic of open coastal the genera Arctesthes, Asaphodes, Notoreas moths occupy extreme habitats. It is rare nowadays to find Dasyuris, Aponotoreas, and habitats at the edges of the land. dunes, grasslands and coastal herbfields Paranotoreas. All these genera are While no part of NZ has more than as extensive and in such a natural state most diverse above the treeline, and one coastal species of the genus, as those along the Southland coast. are among our most attractive moths. most alpine areas of the South Island The genus Notoreas tells us plenty have four to six with each species Acknowledgements about the tectonic and geological emerging at a particular time of year I thank Sarah Crump and Brian Rance history of our country. They also and at a favoured altitude. of DOC, Invercargill for ongoing demonstrate the evolution of All the coastal species feed as larvae encouragement and company in the relationships between insects and on various Pimelea species as the field with the study of various geometrid their host plants. The Kakanui other host genus Kelleria is only moths in coastal Southland Mountains in North Otago with nine found at one NZ coastal site - Bluff Notoreas species is the richest area Hill, Southland, although it comes nationwide for Notoreas - a biological close to sea level at Shag Point, hot spot. In close proximity is the Otago. Both Kelleria and Pimelea are Lammermoor Range where not only host plants in the alpine and high- are there eight species of Notoreas alpine zones to the Notoreas moths but also six different species of living there. the host plant Kelleria. This is the 6 Guest Editorial butterfly conservation Britain and New Zealand Pictured: This is the large blue butterfly which was extinct in Britain but has been successfully reintroduced from Europe.

bear fruit. You can read about this in ordinate effort across the continent. our recent State of UK butterflies 2015 We now have over 45 partners in 36 report online. countries, all working to the same We are also deeply concerned about end. Other countries are joining in and our dwindling moth population. A long butterfly conservation organisations have running light trap network in the UK been formed in countries such as Japan, has shown that around two-thirds of to join long established ones in North widespread species are in decline America and South Africa. and overall numbers have dropped by So it is truly heart-warming to read all one third in the last 45 years. This is the fantastic work you are doing to save especially worrying because moths and these beautiful species in New Zealand. their caterpillars are important prey for I wish you all a very Happy Anniversary. birds and bats, and play a crucial role in Keep up the good work. the functioning of ecosystems. Habitat loss and changing management Dr Martin Warren are the chief COME Chief Executive Butterfly causes, but to Conservation (UK) modern intensive farming and the am delighted to have been asked to widespread use MEXICO write this editorial to celebrate the of pesticides and see the Ifirst ten years of your wonderful Trust. and herbicides One of the great thrills of working for is increasingly Butterfly Conservation in the UK is to making a sterile Magical Monarch Migration connect with fellow butterfly and moth countryside for yourself enthusiasts around the globe and share outside of our passion for these stunning insects. protected PLUS It is great to see your Trust blossoming areas. Similar • Fascinating culture in New Zealand and joining a worldwide losses are being effort to conserve Lepidoptera. reported across • Amazing food Your work has never been more Europe and are • Outstanding history important. Butterflies and moths are in very likely to be steep decline in every continent, with occurring in New enormous implications for other wildlife Zealand as well. but also the health of the planet on We are January 2017 which we all depend. Our President, Sir always keen David Attenborough, rightly calls them to help other Tour starts in NZ the ‘canaries in the coalmine’. organisations In the UK, we have lost 5 of our join our effort Small Group 60 species and almost 45% of the to conserve Register your interest now remainder are declining so rapidly butterflies and that they are considered threatened. moths. In 2004, [email protected] However, we are fortunate to have we established thousands of people interested Butterfly in reversing these trends and our Conservation conservation efforts are beginning to Europe to co- 7 Hitchin’ a ride Story by Brian Patrick

Z’s flora and fauna is often described as being ‘dis-harmonic’, Ncompletely out of harmony with the rest of the world. But that is the charm of NZ. We may be missing many worldwide groups but what we have is very special with a very high rate of endemism, many ancient groups present and many unique adaptions. The magnificent swallowtail butterflies are one of those completely missing from our indigenous fauna. This is despite Australia having 18 species and even our small Pacific neighbours like Nesta Devine saw this butterfly Fiji and American Samoa having one in her North Shore garden each. One of five butterfly groups, the Superfamily Papilionoidea contains many large-winged butterflies in addition to the picked it up and took it home. Imagine swallowtail was seen and photographed swallowtails, species such as the huge my surprise to find a gorgeous live in Birkenhead, Auckland by Nesta birdwings. swallowtail in my home! Devine. She not only reported it in to With the massive inter-change of In 2011 John Early, Auckland Museum www.mb.org.nz but had the presence of freight worldwide certain species will be entomologist saw another flying in mind to obtain an image. It is in perfect involuntarily transported to new places. Epsom. Both these records with two condition confirming, like the Dunedin On arrival some of these illustrations are in our book record, it most likely arrived here as a hitchhikers may get ‘Butterflies of chrysalis and emerged soon after arrival. established the South This butterfly has the capacity to while others Pacific’. become established in foreign lands as only persist for It is probably it has done in Hawai’i since 1971. As in a short time. not surprising that Hawai’i, its larval hostplants (Rutaceae The Japanese insects from Japan spp.) are widely planted making swallowtail arrive here given establishment possible. But our border (Papilio xuthus) is the large quantity of surveillance is strict and efficient in the a widespread and used cars we have cleaning of containers and detecting and common butterfly imported over recent destroying new organisms. species where decades. Maybe it Perhaps the chances of it becoming its larvae feed on says something for established here are low as breeding will citrus species. In our strict border be difficult with these one-off records. 1996 Christine surveillance I urge everyone to keep an eye out for Patrick noticed one that more – both good this and other new or unusual butterflies. emerging from its chrysalis and bad – aren’t found or don’t get If possible take a photo and report it underneath a car in a Dunedin used car established here. through www.mb.org.nz. yard. The wings were still soft so she On 26 January 2016 a third Japanese

Pruning roses or Planting stinging nettles for butterflies? You need omni rose Pruning gloves.

available at garden centres nationwide. www.omniproducts.co.nz 8 Butterfly Daze at Bromley swan plant garden has been butterflies are affected by environmental established at the Bromley change, with so few surviving the A Community Centre by Richard migration to lay eggs for the spring Rowe so everyone can observe the generation. lifecycle of the monarch butterfly. The Eleanor Bissell (Kiwi Conservation centre is close to the Christchurch Club) talked about native butterflies and monarch overwintering site in the Ruru moths. Lawn Cemetery. Outdoors, children learned some Late last year Richard and his partner fun ways of protecting butterflies and Felicity Dagg organised a butterfly caterpillars on their very own swan day for the Christchurch plant. They picked up KCC (Kiwi praying mantises with Conservation a large magnet, shot Children pretended to brush off aphids. They Club) and wasps with a vortex air learned that this won’t affect their monarch Heathcote cannon and simulated caterpillars. Valley School’s brushing off aphids – enviroschool all useful processes class. for their own butterfly Felicity had garden. decorated the Richard Rowe centre along a is very passionate butterfly theme and about the children quickly environment and had lined up to play Pin Aphid removal made up a fun kit for the Body on the community groups Butterfly. They also and schools. Come along learned all about the monarch’s annual to Bromley Community Centre, see his migration in America using educational work and talk with him at the meeting on resources from the MBNZT website. Sunday, 27 March about borrowing the They greatly enjoyed discovering how resources for your school. Richard Rowe addresses the children

Children dressed up as butterflies to win swan plants 9

MothsMonarch and Butterfly Butterflies Agenda

MothsMonarchofNew New and Zealand ZealandButterfly Butterflies Trust Trust Agenda ofNew New Zealand Zealand Trust Trust Annual General Meeting of the AnnualMoths andGeneral Butterflies Meeting of of NZthe Trust to Mothsbe held and on Sunday,Butterflies 27 March, of NZ 1.30pm,Trust All About Butterflies to be heldat Bromley on Sunday, Community 27 March, Centre, 1.30pm, at Bromley Community Centre, All AboutSunday, 27Butterflies March 2016 Bromley Road, Christchurch Sunday,(Easter 27 March Sunday) 2016 Bromley Road, Christchurch (Easter Sunday) Bromley Community Centre 1. Appointment of Chair for the meeting 45 BromleyBromley Rd, Community Bromley, CentreChristchurch 1. Appointment of Chair for the meeting 45 Bromley Rd, Bromley, Christchurch 2. Apologies 2. 3. Apologies Minutes of AGM, Sunday, 22 March 2014 1pm Ten Things You Never Knew 3. Minutes of AGM, Sunday, 22 March 2014 1pm TenAbout Things Monarch You Never Butterflies Knew 4. Matters Arising About Monarch Butterflies 1.30pm Annual General Meeting of the MBNZT 4. 5. Matters Trustees’ Arising Report 1.30pm Annual General Meeting of the MBNZT 2.30pm Brian Patrick, entomologist: 5. 6. Trustees’ Audited ReportAccounts for 2013-14 2.30pm Brian‘New Patrick, Zealand entomologist: Butterflies At Risk 6. Audited Accounts for 2013-14 ‘New Zealand Butterflies At Risk 7. Auditor’s Report 7. Auditor’s Report Visit the public swan plant garden 8. Budget for 2015-16 See monarchsVisit the publicat different swan stages plant garden of their lifecycle. 8. 9. Budget Annual for Subscriptions 2015-16 for 2015-16 See monarchs at different stages of their lifecycle. Bring the family. 9. 10. Annual Elections Subscriptions of Members for of 2015-16 the Board ActivitiesBring the for famil children.y. ThereActivities is also a for playground children. outside. 10. 11. Elections Reappointment of Members of Legal of the Advisor Board There is also a playground outside. 11. 12. Reappointment Reappointment of of Legal Auditor Advisor Further information, [email protected] 12. Reappointment of Auditor FurtherOr information, text Richard [email protected] Rowe 027 284 6900 13. Projects for 2015-16 Or text Richard Rowe 027 284 6900 13. 14. Projects General for Business 2015-16 14. General Business

PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246 www.monarch.org.nz

PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246 www.monarch.org.nz

EncouragE BuTTErFLIES into your garden Check out our BUTTERFLY BEAUTIES selection or choose from a variety of seeds that the butterflies will just love. Visit our website www.kingsseeds.co.nz

PO Box 283 Katikati 3166 Ph: 07 549 3409 • Fax: 07 549 3408 10 In contrast just five of our The Big Backyard gorgeous orange coppers were seen highlighting how local they have become, and how uncommon BUTTERFLY COUNT they are in our cities now. In some cases Brian Patrick they are now very rare anywhere. Both of the magpie moths, both Australian and indigenous e were thrilled that we had 142 responses species, are widespread and common from 131 different people or groups for the Big highlighting how living on common weeds WBackyard Butterfly Count held in November. We (ragwort and groundsels) aids their survival in had nationwide coverage from the Far North to Southland our cities and towns. with a good sprinkling throughout both main islands. It was also fantastic to see schools and early childhood centres Key finding: involved. Our backyards do not support many Thirteen butterflies (one dismissed through mis-identification) of our indigenous butterflies, rather and two day-flying moths were reported. the self-introduced monarch and the Monarch, red admiral, yellow admiral, white introduced white butterfly dominate butterfly and South Island common copper with an occasional red or yellow admiral. were the most commonly recorded. We I suspect that the admirals seen were in gardens were pleased that the where the observer actively plants nettle specifically to attract accidentally introduced the butterfly to lay eggs. But some observers did find good large white butterfly was populations of admirals in some of our cities. not reported, as it was There is a lot of potential to attract more of our native the subject of a successful butterflies to our local parks and backyards by strategic eradication programme by planting of native plants such as pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia government over recent species) and native nettles. years. It would be interesting to conduct the survey at a different The survey detected a time of year to compare results; a midsummer count would be migration of the gorgeous informative. Australian painted lady butterfly from northern Australia with three sightings from the West Coast of the South Island to Banks Peninsula and Tauranga. These only happen The MBNZT intends to move the count to mid-January every seven years or so, so satisfying to tie in with one of those. next year, and hold these surveys annually to build up a Also, all three of our blue butterflies were seen highlighting that picture of what is happening to our Lepidoptera species. they are widespread and locally common, although small in size 11

Gardening Permaculture Story and photo by Aster Green Principles ermaculture is a creative design process based on other animals. Because plants grow in different ways and in whole-systems thinking guided by ethics and design different heights a diverse community of life is able to grow in Pprinciples. It mimics the patterns and relationships we a relatively small space. Each layer is stacked one on top of find in nature. I hadn’t realised how much it had affected another. my thinking as I work on my garden, creating a semi-wild In a forest there are seven or eight layers: why not repeat sanctuary for butterflies and also other insects, birds and this in the garden. There’s the canopy of tallest ‘trees’, an wildlife – yes even the ‘bad’ insects!! understorey of smaller trees that revel in the dappled light Permaculture originally referred to ‘permanent agriculture’ under the canopy. Then a shrub layer, woody perennials of but had been expanded to ‘permanent culture’ as we learned limited height (for example, swan plants), the herbaceous layer how social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system. of plants which die back every winter and the ground cover or Permaculture is all about caring for the earth, for people and soil surface. There’s also the rhizosphere: the root layers within returning any surplus (for example using waste). the soil and a vertical layer of climbers and vines and you could Many of the twelve design principles are second nature as I also include fungi. develop my butterfly habitat. Here are a few examples. Many people consider the swan plant part of the summer Firstly, it is not possible to have a garden ‘just’ for butterflies garden. While it’s not a particularly attractive plant if it’s part (or roses, or camellias). If you want butterflies then you will also of a complex layer it is not an eyesore and the monarch larvae need host and nectar plants – and having those will attract benefit with shelter from predators and parasites and more other insects that use the same plants. I have been granted places to pupate. the use of this beautiful drawing from English artist and author The edge is also important: where vastly differing systems Emma Lawrence (Thank you Emma) which illustrates how meet there is an intense area of productivity and useful everything is connected in nature. It’s a balance. connections. The edge between lawn and garden may be This is where principle No. 1 (Observe and interact) and easier to maintain if it is straight but it is less productive and No. 10 (Use and value diversity) come in. In an ecosystem, harder on the eye – the ideal place to let clover grow and everything is related. Diversity reduces vulnerability to various bloom, creating a barrier between the two and hosting blue threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the butterflies. environment. And by taking time to engage with nature we can See if permaculture has a place in your garden. design solutions to suit our own situation. Emma Lawrence’s illustration shows how everything is connected I don’t think of wasps in my garden as a threat but I do my best to understand their life cycle and do everything I can to reduce their impact on my butterfly population. That’s principle No. 8: Integrate rather than segregate: By putting the right things in the right place relationships develop which work together to support each other. Another opportunity for me and my garden is to Produce no waste: Value and use all the resources which are available. Nothing goes to waste. There is always a use for organic waste to improve my garden. Another example: layers are one of the tools used to design functional ecosystems which are both sustainable and of direct benefit to the ecosystem. In a garden (or habitat) there is a huge number of relationships between the various components: trees, understorey, ground cover, soil, fungi, insects and 12 TOP SECRET On the case with Inspector Insector

Calling all Insect Investigators, Inspector Insector needs your help INSECT INVESTIGATOR’S OATH I promise to serve and protect and treat as my equal every living thing to solve a puzzling insect mystery. on the planet – even the slimy slugs. I promise to put a stop to all the thoughtless squashing of insects and spiders and to be loyal to Her Royal Take the Insect Investigator’s Oath Highness the Queen Bee as I help Inspector Insector keep the world safe. This I swear to every insect and human, snail, slug and worm. and help The Inspector to solve AN INSECT’S THEORY: Bowza Blip has made a statement to the office of Inspector CASE FILE 2A Insector saying he heard from a friend of a friend that there is a certain insect living in the Brown’s garden who thinks butterfly legs are a treat to eat. They are he says, a delicacy. The mystery of the He believes the story too, after all there are people in France who eat frogs’ legs as food so why not have an insect who missing Monarchs eats butterflies’ legs for breakfast? HOW INSPECTOR INSECTOR WOULD BACKGROUND TO THE CASE: INVESTIGATE THIS CASE: Earlier this morning, Melisa Monarch was seen feeding on a The Inspector would search the internet for scarlet swan plant in the Brown’s garden when it was noticed clues, looking up websites about monarch by Jimmy Brown that she only seemed to have four butterflies and why they seem to only legs. All insects have six legs – and a have four legs. He would also watch butterfly is definitely an insect so what monarchs in his own garden to has happened to her two front legs? learn as much as he can. We know that butterflies taste IS IT JUST MELISA OR DO with their feet. Could ALL MONARCHS LOOK LIKE this have something THIS? to do with Insect Investigators will have to the missing interview other monarch butterflies legs? There is so to see how many legs they have. You much we don’t know may also like to search the internet for about insects so as an information on monarch butterflies and Insect Investigator, it is your the number of legs they have. Insects job to help find out as much as you do some strange things. Some insects can and to share what you learn with others. The are known to have their ears in their front MBNZT forum is a great place to ask questions and share legs....so maybe monarchs have their front legs in their ears? your knowledge. Under article 47 of the Insect Act, Insect Investigators are authorised to capture and closely examine a monarch butterfly to see if they can find evidence of the butterflies having their legs removed, or to see if they can find some other explanation for the four-legged insect mystery.

PLEASE NOTE: all butterflies must be released as soon as the investigation is complete.

Bowza Blip (pictured) has a theory 13 MBNZT MATTERS HABITAT CERTIFIED involvement with Special Olympics saw her transition from ‘mum the chauffeur’ NEW TRUSTEE to aquatics team manager, Chair of Special Olympics North Harbour, and Regional Councillor. Butterflies ate their way through dozens of swan plants when her sons were youngsters, but they took on a special significance when helping her intellectually disabled son to cope with the death of his beloved wife - and lead to her involvement with MBNZT. Our newest trustee, Joan says she still has a lot to learn about butterflies, moths and the Trust, and is keen to give her full support.

Joan Fairhall Trustee here were butterflies aplenty in The area planted by On the Joan’s childhood in Blenheim – Bright Side Charitable Trust in Tthat fleeting, flitting enchantment Eden Terrace, Auckland was almost taken for granted. Then a career recently certified as being a embracing radio and TV presentation shining example of butterfly and journalism in both New Zealand habitat. Here is Rebecca Bibby, and the UK, and as communication Chair of the MBNZT, presenting consultant for NZ corporates and the plaque to Lyn Barnes, one of businesses. She is a director of the key people involved in this Fonebank Recycling NZ Ltd. stunning piece of beautification. Over more than twenty years her 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 POINTS • Sunny gardens attrac TAKAPUNA tterfly or moth needs spe VISIT YOUR LOCAL Ph KINGS 0800 752 687 11 P way, Ph 426 0401 • Each species of bu s on t the most butterflies so orana Road, Ph 443 2221 adults will only lay egg plant nectar-rich flowers 1 Forrest Hill Road, TAKANINI at. 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 e 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 food for the adult he most butterflies butterflies,so while host plan • Sunny gardens attract t ts feed caterpillars. owers and host plants inSome nectar plants are also plant nectar-rich fl e.g. swan plants. host plants, part of the garden. OPEN 7 DAYS the sunniest s ill bloom at different time Choose plants that w Call 0800 PLANTS • y experimenting with Garden Guide and checkthroughout the year. Tr outwww.kings.co.nz hat appeal to different a variety of plants t cies. butterfly and moth spe 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 14 Creative Crew from Chicago

ori Stralow-Harris and Debbie Williams have been visiting New Zealand recently. After receiving grants from the US LForest Service and the North American Monarch Institute, they have been collaborating to learn more about monarchs and eventually will conduct more monarch education in their community. Debbie is a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and works for a not-for-profit called ‘Faith in Place’ where she leads the program ‘Migration and Me’. The program engages communities of faith in sharing their personal stories and connecting their stories to migration of other species such as the monarch butterfly, encouraging conservation and stewardship. Lori has a background in art and nature education. Her business, Salt Creek Butterfly Farm, links her community with the natural world through art. She has been raising monarchs for well over 30 years, having given hundreds of metamorphosis kits to under-privileged schools, local nursing homes, memory care units, grief counselling centres to name a few. While Debbie is only beginning on her monarch journey, Lori was surprised at how many monarchs there were in New Lori and Debbie yellow admiral release Zealand, and how milkweed (swan plant) was so common. The main purpose of their visit was to visit the tree church in Ohaupo – an open air church where the walls and roof are formed from living trees. Barry Cox, the creator, had designed this for his own recreation and respite but had been surprised how many people wanted to share the sanctuary with him, so now it is open to the public. The two women are planning building a similar ‘church’ to the Tree Church, but this time it will be in a Chicago neighbourhood that is in need of beautification and educational resources. Lori and Debbie, together with Jacqui Knight, had time to visit Te Puna Quarry Park where they saw hundreds of monarchs and also cinnabar moths and admirals. They had the opportunity of releasing yellow admirals in Jacqui’s Blockhouse Bay garden as well. Although they only had a week in NZ they also managed to visit the Hundertwasser toilets and Tane Mahuta in the Far North, as well as taking a few days out in the Bay of Islands with Eco- cruz. They were impressed with what they saw.

Yellow admiral Photo by Jane Carver Lori and Debbie tree church 15 Photography Tip with Angela Moon-Jones

Butterflies are most active on sunny days as they need the heat of the sun to power their wings. However, you should still look for them on days where there is sporadic cloud as they are much easier to approach and photograph. Follow them until they rest when the sun hides behind a cloud and they become less hyperactive! These photos of the yellow admiral and monarch butterflies were taken on a very overcast day with my Olympus Macro 60mm lens. I can never get this close to them on a sunny day with their wings wide open, as they are too hyperactive and don’t stay still for long enough.

Yellow Admiral

DID YOU KNOW Many of you will have seen a monarch egg close up but not this close! This picture has been taken with SEM technology (scanning electron microscope) thanks to Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington and technician Sarah Spencer. It has been magnified 220 times. Each egg is formed inside the female prior to fertilisation. The hard outer shell called the chorion protects the developing larva inside. The shell is lined with a layer of wax to keep the egg from drying out. The eggs have tiny funnel-shaped openings at one end, called micropyles. These holes penetrate all the way through the shell allowing sperm to enter, since eggs form their hard shell prior to fertilisation. The raised areas or ridges on the egg shell are also formed before the egg is laid. The dark head of the developing caterpillar can be seen near the top of the egg prior to emergence. Monarchs are in the egg stage for 3-8 days depending on the temperature. 16

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER Your purchase supports the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust MBNZT George Gibbs’ ‘The T-shirts Monarch Butterfly’ Everything you wanted to know Our T-shirt about the monarch butterfly. collection 56 pages, paperback, colour is available photographs, published by in a wide Entomological Society of NZ. $29 range of (includes P&P). styles and 40 New Designs colours. Go Robert Hoare’s ‘A to www.nzbutterflies.printmighty.co.nz to see the full range of colours and styles for men, women and children. Prices from Photographic Guide to $30.00. Moths and Butterflies of Order at www.nzbutterflies.printmighty.co.nz – or on New Zealand’ the shop via our website. We will add more designs and This book fills a long awaited need garments (such as bags and caps) on demand – please for a reference work to the pictorial contact [email protected] if you would like to see other identification of many of NZ’s moths. lines. Brilliant photographs! $34 (includes P&P). ID chart of NZ’s Brian and Hamish Patrick’s butterflies ‘Butterflies of the South Full-colour and laminated ID chart Pacific’ From Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji in the west, of NZ’s butterflies to the far-flung Marquesas and Austral comes folded to a Islands handy size for use in French on tramps and out Polynesia and about (160mm in the east, x 225mm) Opens this book surveys (and discovers) out to 790mm x 450mm. All butterflies are represented life-size, the butterfly inhabitants of these and scientific name, a brief description, and information about tropical islands, including Hawaii. host plants of larva (caterpillars) is given. Most species, except Brian Patrick is the co-author of for the rare visitors, are accompanied by a distribution map. several books on natural history Artwork is by Brian Hargreaves, and text by George Gibbs. and invertebrates and a frequent Scientific names are used according to Fauna of New Zealand contributor to the Butterflies 14 Lepidoptera pp 135 -139, by JS Dugdale. Postage included. magazine. Hardback, 240 pages. Only $7 folded flat (includes P&P.) $45 (includes P&P). SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER Subscribe now and get two years at a discounted rate $30.00 *$30.00 for on-line magazine. $40.00 for printed magazine. 2015-6 and 2016-7 (eight magazines)

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.