DOCSLIB.ORG

Satyrid Butterflies Our Alpine

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Satyrid Butterflies Our Alpine ISSUE 26 | SPRING 2018 oRdER yoUR 2019 CalENdaR Now Our alpine Satyrid ButterflieS alSo IN thIS ISSUE: ClICk thE tICk | PREdatoRS PlUS | MaPUa SChool 2 swan plant). We need to be From the informed about these so we can protect our milkweed. As well as Vicky Steele’s efforts monitoring editOr overwintering butterflies in Christchurch, Maria Romero always look forward to the is working to increase arrival of spring… the perfume of numbers of swan plants in I freesias and daphne, cherrypie Christchurch. And you can COntentS and violets, the blooming of spring read about our Alpine Satyrid Cover photo: Percnodaimon pluto, photo flowers, and the return of butterflies to my butterflies. thanks to Angela Moon-Jones garden. And so it is with great delight I’ve If you haven’t been to see the amazing put together this issue of our magazine. butterfly exhibition at the Auckland 2 Editorial However, we want you to be forearmed Museum yet, we urge you to do so. 3 so that you have a great butterfly season Everyone who has been to see it thinks The MBNZT at work so there are some other less pleasant it’s both entertaining and educational… 4-5 Our Alpine Satyrid Butterflies items in this edition. Our detailed article Joan Fairhall took her grand-daughter on social wasps may make you gasp in along. You’ll also read about the butterfly 6 Obituary: Lincoln Brower horror, but there are steps you can take habitat that’s been created in an Auckland to eliminate or at least reduce this pest park and find out more about a teacher at 7 Butterfly Love: from your garden. We’ve asked all the Mapua School devoted to butterflies. Mapua School experts for their ideas. Our monarchs On a sad note, we include an obituary will need every bit of help they can get to Lincoln Brower, professor in the USA Seed Sales help Youthline as numbers are low. In the top half of the who probably knew more than anyone else 8-9 Predators Threaten country numbers were hugely reduced about monarch butterflies. He was 86. last February (so smaller numbers Recently on Facebook we ran a contest Christchurch Monarchs overwintering) and in Christchurch asking for ideas for upcycling in the garden 10 Happy Retirement Peter the overwintering colonies have been to benefit butterflies. You will see photos Yealand decimated by predators – most likely rats. throughout the magazine of some of the And the garden centres evidently will be ideas generated. Three clever people who 11 Good and Bad for Moth Vine offering less swan plants this year… so get contributed earned themselves amazing planting those seeds now. prizes, thanks to Dalton’s. Look for the 12 Exploring the Secret World You will also read about controls that photos in pink frames! will more than likely be introduced to And of course that’s only a sample of 13 Social Wasps reduce moth vine (in the same family as what’s inside. Enjoy! 14 Blockhouse Bay Recreational Reserve A winning entry in the Butterfly Musketeer rides again Upcycling for Butterflies 15 - using freezer baskets Earthlore Goes Ahead to protect plants from Upcycling Contest birds. Thanks Christine 16 Calendar/ Subs Whitmore, you're a winner! a Big thank you to our Sponsors Patron: Sir Robert Harvey, KNZM, QSO Platinum Sponsors Editor/Secretary: Jacqui Knight [email protected] Graphic Designer: Jai Pancha, [email protected] Treasurer: Carol Stensness [email protected] Advertising: Angela Moon-Jones [email protected] Silver Sponsors 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] Magazine Sponsors https://www.facebook.com/mbnzt mbnztorg pinterest.com/mbnzt mothsandbutterfliesnztrust Printed in NZ on vegetable based inks Sustainability 3 the MBnZt From time to time we review AUT Outside the Square the way in which our magazine is Once again we are working with at work! produced. You may have noticed a team of AUT media students who that we recently changed the stock have adopted us as their clients. Click the tick! on which the magazine is printed. Chadd Ashby, Jesse Carpenter, Garden centres up and down the We use vegetable-based inks and Sabrina Faytaren, Clodagh O’Carroll country are signing up to show that the paper is approved by the Forest and Courtney Pitcher hae identified they will only sell swan plants that Stewardship Council. The FSC is that the MBNZT needs to raise are pesticide-free. Buy from them, an organisation working to promote awareness – not only of the species and you can be confident that your the practice of sustainable forestry of butterflies and moths and the caterpillars won’t be dying from worldwide. Approved products like need for conservation, but also our sprayed plants. paper and wood have been sourced organisation and our aims. A list of these garden centres is on in an environmentally-friendly, socially In early October (school holidays) our website – just look for the tick on responsible and economically viable they are planning a butterfly-filled our homepage and ‘click the tick’. manner. For example, the wood pulp day in Auckland. With craft events, That will take you to the page where is sourced from a well-managed forest competitions and butterfly-themed there are also warnings about other and is eco-friendly. goodies, this is one event you won’t reasons for deaths of monarch larvae. We are currently reviewing the want to miss. More information will be Some people don’t think about (or packaging in which the magazines get in the e-news and in social media. realise) the damage that flea collars, sent to you. In the meantime, we urge plug-in insect controls and even you to reuse the plastic so that it is germicide or sunscreen on hands can not single-use. The wrappers are very do when handling caterpillars. handy if you own a dog! National Butterfly Centre Staff at the certificated garden Since our Winter magazine we centres will have taken advantage of have been making some progress our on-line Create Butterfly Habitat on another site in Auckland, this course so that they are better time “downtown”. Mark Bateman equipped to advise gardeners on and Jacqui Knight have met with nectar sources and host plants for the Auckland Domain Committee other butterflies and day-flying moths. and Auckland Council staff and You can help spread the word about our discussions to date have been our campaign by passing the ‘Click favourable. the Tick’ message on to your friends, The site is on a north-facing families, schools… slope (all day sun), sheltered to the By the time you read this we will south and would complement a have been on TV1’s BREAKFAST and development of leisure activities. Jacqui is being interviewed by Jesse We will (of course) keep you Mulligan on Radio New Zealand. informed. Hopefully other media will also have picked up on this story. Our Calendar Our beautiful calendar for 2019 is going to be a huge favourite – and it is one way you can show your support for the cause. Thanks to the support of our sponsors our annual calendar is a great little fundraiser for the MBNZT, helping fund our projects. Many of those photos cannot be obtained elsewhere – and some have never been seen before. The calendars are 297mm wide x 210mm high when closed, or 297mm wide x 420 mm high when open. They have one month per page, with each page featuring a different New Zealand butterfly or moth. The cover is shown and the calendar is in production at present. Order them now and they will be mailed to you in October, in good time for posting overseas as gifts for friends and family. See back page for more details. 4 Mount Brewster, Western Our Alpine Satyrid Butterflies Otago, home of Butler’s ringlet By Brian Patrick z has ten species of alpine orange in colour in contrast to the particularly in quality natural satyrid butterfly, all confined dark brown males. The eggs are tussock grasslands from 900-1800 Nto the South Island’s laid on tall snowgrass (Chionochloa metres on mountainsides. Again, multitude of mountain ranges. In species) with the caterpillars feeding the caterpillars feed on tussocks in NZ this sub-family of butterflies, the on the long leaves on suitable days the genus Chionochloa so depend Satyridae, also contains the formerly and hiding in the leaf bases by night on natural intact grasslands. widespread forest ringlet butterfly and in bad weather. Over much of its range outside which was naturally distributed from It is a thrill to see this beautiful of northwest Nelson it flies with Northland to the northern third of the butterfly in alpine basins where it the common tussock butterfly (A. South Island from the coast to tree- flies slowly over the snowgrass antipodum). line where its larval hostplant grows canopy. The common tussock, though, in the shade of beech forest. None of The three species of tussock has a much wider range being the ten alpine species is known from butterfly have distinct distributions found down to sea-level in the far Stewart Island despite apparently with the Nelson tussock butterfly south of the South Island and parts suitable habitat being present on the (Argyrophenga harrisi) confined of eastern Canterbury and Otago. island’s many alpine areas. to northwest Nelson between And it has widened its larval diet to These ten alpine species are 1300-1900 metres.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • APP203875 Submissions Compilation.Pdf
    APP203875 German and Common wasps BCA Submissions 11 November 2020 Under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Volume 1 of 1 to release 2 parasitoids, Metoecus paradoxus and Volucella inanis, as biological control agents for the invasive German and common wasps Submission Number Submitter Submitter Organisation SUBMISSION127659 Clinton Care SUBMISSION127660 Member of Public 01 SUBMISSION127661 Peter King SUBMISSION127662 Rod Hitchmough Department of Conservation SUBMISSION127663 Member of Public 02 SUBMISSION127664 Linde Rose SUBMISSION127665 Andrew Blick SUBMISSION127666 Shane Hona Bay of Plenty Regional Council SUBMISSION127667 Bryce Buckland SUBMISSION127668 Jono Underwood Marlborough District Council SUBMISSION127669 Kane McElrea Northland Regional Council - Whangarei SUBMISSION127670 Member of Public 03 SUBMISSION127671 Davor Bejakovich Greater Wellington Regional Council SUBMISSION127672 Margaret Hicks SUBMISSION127673 Jenny Dymock Northland Regional Council - Whangarei SUBMISSION127674 Member of Public 04 SUBMISSION127675 Roger Frost SUBMISSION127676 Ricki Leahy Trees and Bees Ltd SUBMISSION127677 Barry Wards Ministry for Primary Industries SUBMISSION127678 Member of Public 05 SUBMISSION127679 Jan O'Boyle 1 Submission Number Submitter Submitter Organisation Apiculture New Zealand Science and SUBMISSION127680 Sue Carter Research Focus Group SUBMISSION127681 Andrea Dorn SUBMISSION127682 Benita Wakefield Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu SUBMISSION127683 Emma Edney-Browne Auckland Council SUBMISSION127684 David Hunter
    [Show full text]
  • Exhibition Catalogue Natural History Illustrations by Erin Forsyth, 2018
    A Few Exhibition catalogue Natural history illustrations by Erin Forsyth, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE WORKS 5 About the artist 7 How to use this catalogue 9 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE 10 Korimako, makomako, bellbird 13 Kākāriki, Red-crowned parakeet, (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) 15 Moko kākāriki, Auckland green gecko (Naultinus elegans) 17 Pekapeka-tou-roa, long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) 19 Pekapeka-tou-roa, long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) 21 Pekapeka-tou-roa, long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) 23 Ngirungiru, miromiro, South Island tomtit (Petroica macrocephala macrocephala) male 25 Kakaruwai, South Island Robin (Petroica australis) 27 Tōrea pango, variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) 29 Kererū, NZ wood pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) 31 Kōtare, sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) 33 Ruru, morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae) 35 TŪī, parsons bird (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) 37 Kōkako, blue-wattled crow (Callaeas wilsoni) 41 Takahe, South Island Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) 43 Tūturiwhatu, NZ Dotteral (Charadrius obscurus) 45 Whio, blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) 47 Kahukōwhai, yellow admiral (Vanessa itea) 49 Wētāpunga, Little Barrier (Hauturu-o-Toi) giant weta (Deinacrida heteracantha) 51 Kārearea, NZ falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) 53 Common evening brown (Melanitis leda bankia) 55 Pepe pouri, Helms' butterfly or forest ringlet (Dodonidia helmsii) 59 Kahukōwhai, yellow admiral (Vanessa itea) & Kahukura, NZ red admiral (V. gonerilla gonerilla) 63 Pepe pouri, Butler's ringlet (Erebiola butleri) & pepe pouri, black mountain ringlet (Percnodaimon merula) 67 Pīwakawaka, fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) 73 Weka, woodhen (Gallirallus australis) 75 Carnivorous land snail (Powelliphanta superba) 77 MYRTACEAE Studies I & II (Diptych) 79 ABOUT THE WORKS These original works are from the exhibition ‘A Few’ - the third installment in an ongoing series of natural history illustrations depicting native and resident species of Aotearoa by Erin Forsyth.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Management Strategy, Bay of Plenty 2020, Volume III, Draft
    Conservation Management Strategy Bay of Plenty 2020, Volume III, Draft appendices Conservation Management Strategy Bay of Plenty 2020, Volume III Draft appendices ISBN 978-0-473-55277-0 © December 2020, New Zealand Department of Conservation Crown copyright © 2020 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to the Crown and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Please note that no departmental or governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be used in any way which infringes any provision of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981. Attribution to the Crown should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo or Coat of Arms. Use the wording ‘Department of Conservation’ in your attribution, not the Department of Conservation logo. This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. Contents Appendix 1. Treaty of Waitangi relationships in the Bay of Plenty region 1 Appendix 2. Work or activities of the Department of Conservation that may meet the requirements of section 4(3) of the Resource Management Act 1991 for exemptions from land use consents in the Bay of Plenty region 3 Appendix 3. Terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem and habitat types within the Bay of Plenty region 20 Appendix 4. Islands over 1 ha administered by the Department of Conservation in the Bay of Plenty region 35 Appendix 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Phenology and Parasitism of the Red Admiral Butterfly Bassaris Gonerilla (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
    BARRON, WRATTEN, BARLOW: RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY PHENOLOGY 105 Phenology and parasitism of the red admiral butterfly Bassaris gonerilla (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Mandy C. Barron1,2,*, Stephen D. Wratten2 and Nigel D. Barlow1 1Biocontrol and Biosecurity Group, AgResearch, Gerald St, P.O. Box 60, Lincoln, New Zealand 2Division of Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, New Zealand *Corresponding author (E-mail: [email protected]) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Population densities of the endemic red admiral butterfly, Bassaris gonerilla, were monitored over two summers on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Egg-laying usually begins in September and ends in late May. Peaks in egg, larval and adult densities suggest that B. gonerilla completes two full generations per season and in favourable years, a third generation is started but not completed. Population density was lower in a low-rainfall season probably because of the lower survival and nutritional quality of the host plant, Urtica ferox. “Non-target” parasitism levels by Pteromalus puparum (introduced to manage populations of the small white butterfly Pieris rapae) were low at 3.5–16.9% of pupae collected from the field. However, parasitism by the self-introduced pupal parasitoid Echthromorpha intricatoria was very high at 67.5–82.3%. Echthromorpha intricatoria can overwinter in B. gonerilla pupae and is thus capable of attacking all generations
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 18 Spring-2016-Hyperlinks
    ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2016 PLUS ON PAGE 20 ORDER YOUR 2017 CALENDAR NOw Scintillating 2017 Calendar CINNABAR moth SPONSORED BY ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: SAVE THE FOREST RINGLET | BUTTERFLY GARDENING AOTEAROA | PESTS & PREDATORS 2 We are delighted to From the reveal our Platinum sponsor: Yealands Family Wines. What an amazing EdItoR vineyard and winery this is. I was astounded when veryone is talking about I visited there and you the ‘warm winter’. I will be too when you hear CoNtENtS E translate that to mean more wasps about their sustainability initiatives. Cover photo: Frank Porch eating our caterpillars this season. It’s The gorgeous cinnabar moth is going to be a hard job for the butterflies described inside. Have you seen it? 2 to sustain their numbers. Already I have What a shock it was when I saw my Editorial monarchs laying on my milkweed so first. A beautiful creature, reminds 3 Platinum Sponsor hopefully I can get these early ones me of a flamenco dancer. Announced through to a good head start. We have started a new slant on Real-life experience If wasps and aphids are a problem the gardening column: readers there are some practical tips for you throughout the country are invited 4-5 Scintillating Cinnabar Moth in this magazine. to contribute their ideas to help 6 We are making way with our Forest the butterflies. If you’d like to The Forest Ringlet Project Ringlet Project. You can read more contribute to the Summer issue of 7 Establishing Balmoral about this endangered butterfly and BUTTERFLIES, please email me Coppers what we plan to do and achieve in [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Dodonidia Helmsii Forest Ringlet Butterfly
    Dodonidia helmsii Forest Ringlet Butterfly Review of the Literature, Analysis of Current Data, and Proposals for Future Conservation S R Wheatley 978-0-473-39671-8 (softcover) 978-0-473-39672-5 (PDF) Dodonidia helmsii - Forest Ringlet Butterfly: Review of the literature, Analysis of Current Data, and Proposals for Future Conservation S R Wheatley Forest ringlet photographed 5 December 2016 by Sara Smerdon Introduction This report summarises the literature and the information related to the forest ringlet butterfly Dodonidia helmsii. This is bringing together information from a wide range of sources, including face-to-face discussion and personal observations from the period November 2016 to January 2017. Through review and discussion we can achieve a better understanding of the status and conservation needs of the butterfly. Some objectives for ongoing work are proposed. Specific actions can be derived from this list. Introduction to the Butterfly The forest ringlet butterfly D. helmsii, also known as Helms' butterfly, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, and endemic to New Zealand. It is the only species in the genus Dodonidia. Tillyard (1926) suggests it is a relative of the Oriexenica genus, found in Australia. As early as 1896 Marshall referred to the “great rarity of the butterfly”. Tillyard (1926) described the forest ringlet being “in a few localities in both islands” and “a rather rare, local species, widespread in the forested areas”, while Gaskin (1966) said “it seems to be local rather than rare”. It is certainly true to say that it is rarely seen. Maddison estimates that perhaps less than 100 people have seen and identified the butterfly in the wild (pers comm., November 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 2G Invertebrate Report (PDF, 697K)
    DRAFT INVERTEBRATE ADDENDUM TO WILDLANDS REPORT R3470 ON THE PROPOSED TE KUHA MINE INTRODUCTION The proposed Te Kuha coal mine site was visited on 9-10 September by Brian Patrick, entomologist. Although two trips were made to the site over that time, less than half a day of actual sampling was possible. All of the survey work was performed in the daytime with helicopter access to the highest ridge and hut site. Sampling involved observation of characteristic feeding damage on vegetation, hand collection including lifting rocks, and sweep netting of vegetation. This addendum to Wildland Consultants (2014) discusses and summarises changes and additions to the conclusions of that report in light of the field visit. ANNOTATED LIST OF KEY INVERTEBRATES FOUND Forest ringlet butterfly: Dodonidia helmsi (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyridae) The elegant forest ringlet butterfly Dodonidia helmsi was first found and later described from the Paparoa Range. A significant population of this rare and attractive butterfly species was located from 700-800 m at the Te Kuha site. Larvae were abundant on the larval host plant Gahnia procera, and feeding damage was noticeable on all populations of the host plant seen in the understorey of the shrubland and low forest areas. Two size classes of larvae were found (10 and 26 mm) confirming that the life cycle is two years but that some adult butterflies emerge every year (Patrick & Patrick, 2012). This species was not found by Mitchell Partnerships 2013). The Department of Conservation national threat ranking for this species is At Risk-Relict (Hitchmough et al. 2014) reflecting the major decline this species has experienced over the past 70 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Landcare Report
    Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Restoration Plan 2019–2029 Prepared for: Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust June 2019 Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Restoration Plan 2019–2029 Contract Report: LC3464 John Innes, Corinne Watts Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Bruce Burns University of Auckland With contributions from other members of, and advisors to, the Maungatautari Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel: Aaron Barnsdall (Mana Whenua Trustee) Geoff Churchill (Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust) Professor Bruce Clarkson (University of Waikato) Poto Davies (Maungatautari Mana Whenua) Dr Catherine Kirby (University of Waikato) Cheridan Mathers (Hamilton Zoo) Dr Shelley Langton-Myers (EcoQuest Education Foundation) Robyn Nightingale (Maungatautari Mana Whenua) Dr Kate Richardson (Waikato Regional Council) Tony Roxburgh (Waipa District Council) Alan Saunders (Waikato Regional Council) Dr Andrew Styche (Department of Conservation) Dr Kiri Wallace (University of Waikato) Dr Janelle Ward (Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust) Reviewed by: Approved for release by: Robyn Simcock Gary Houliston Scientist Portfolio Leader – Enhancing Biodiversity Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Disclaimer This report has been prepared by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research for Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. If used by other parties, no warranty or representation is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from reliance on the information in it.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology Supplementary Report – Terrestrial Invertebrates
    Ecology supplementary report – Terrestrial Invertebrates February 2018 Corinne Watts Quality Assurance Statement Prepared by: Corinne Watts Landcare Research Reviewed by: Liz Deakin Tonkin & Taylor Limited Approved for release: Duncan Kenderdine Mt Messenger Alliance Revision schedule Rev. Number Date Description A February 2018 Final Disclaimer This report has been prepared by the Mt Messenger Alliance for the benefit of the NZ Transport Agency. No liability is accepted by the Alliance Partners or any employee of or sub-consultant to the Alliance Partners companies with respect to its use by any other person. This disclaimer shall apply notwithstanding that the report may be made available to other persons for an application for permission or approval or to fulfil a legal requirement. Ecology supplementary report – Terrestrial Invertebrates | Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Further ecological investigations 2 2.1 Introduction 2 2.2 Methodology 2 2.2.1 Field assessment methods 2 2.2.2 Assessment of effects methodology 8 2.3 Results from further investigations 8 2.3.1 Invertebrates collected using malaise traps 8 2.3.2 Invertebrates collected with pitfall traps 9 2.3.3 Earthworm surveys 10 2.3.4 Assessment of effects 10 2.4 Discussion and recommended mitigation 11 3 Conclusions 14 4 References 15 Appendix A: Invertebrate taxa sampled from malaise traps 19 Appendix B: Invertebrate taxa sampled from pitfall traps 41 Appendix C: Earthworm taxa excavated from pits 55 Ecology supplementary report – Terrestrial Invertebrates | Glossary Term Meaning AEE Assessment of Effects on the Environment Report DOC Department of Conservation DOC Assessment DOC’s Guidelines for Assessing Ecological Values, developed by Guidelines Davis et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Bronze As a Non-Customary Intervention in the Interpretation of Insects from the Natural World of Māori
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Bronze as a non-customary intervention in the interpretation of insects from the natural world of Māori VOLUME ONE An exhibition report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts at Massey University, Palmerston North Aotearoa, New Zealand. Elizabeth Anne Grant 2014 Art lies in nature Dürer Abstract Without insects the world as we know it would not exist. Insects are essential for life on earth, and yet they invoke from us, a gambit of emotions ranging from fear to fascination. The way in which insects impact on our lives is both surprising and diverse, and yet, in spite of their importance, insects are primarily overlooked as members of our natural world because they are small and inconspicuous. For Māori, insects are part of ngā tamariki a Tāne, borne from the union between Tāne Mahuta and Punga. But, the distraction associated with colonisation, has faded much of the mātauranga (knowledge) and oral story telling associated with insects from Te ao Māori. For this reason, this thesis focuses on insects recognised by Māori and considered significant to Māori around the time of European colonisation as based on written documentation (mostly European) derived from colonial field work observations, dictionaries, missionaries and researchers both Māori and non Māori during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
    Ecological impact and spread of an invasive paper wasp in New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) By Matthew Howse A thesis submitted to Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a degree of Master of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka 2021 This thesis was conducted under the supervision of: Prof. Philip J. Lester Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 2 General Abstract: Social wasps are considered among the most successful and impactful invasive species in the world. One species, Polistes dominula has spread from its native Mediterranean range to every continent except Antarctica. This wasp reached New Zealand in the last decade where it has established in the north of the South Island, however, reports of its presence are increasing throughout the country. Due to its recent arrival in New Zealand, little is known about where this species is likely to establish or what impacts it may have on local insect communities. In this thesis, I conducted two studies to investigate these questions, providing valuable information that may inform future management of this invasive species. In chapter 2, I used two bioclimatic modelling methods to predict areas of suitable habitat across four regions in the southern hemisphere. These models were informed by global temperature and precipitation data as well as global distribution occurrence data of P. dominula. These data were used to estimate conditions most highly correlated with the presence of this wasp. The models identified large areas across the target regions that were climatically suitable for the establishment of P.
    [Show full text]
  • Staff Assessment Report APP203875
    Staff Assessment Report APP203875: An application to import and release two biological control agents to control German and common wasps. Purpose To release two parasitoids, Metoecus paradoxus and Volucella inanis, as biological control agents for the invasive German and common wasps (Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris). Application number APP203875 Application type Notified, Full Release Applicant Tasman District Council Date formally received 14 September 2020 1 EPA advice for APP203 875 Executive Summary and Recommendation In September 2020, the Tasman District Council on behalf of the Vespula Biocontrol Action Group submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) seeking pre-approval to release two biological control agents (BCAs) for the German wasp and the common wasp. The research and background study was conducted by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research New Zealand Limited. The application was publicly notified. The EPA received 30 submissions, 25 submissions supported the application, two submissions neither supported nor opposed and three submissions opposed the application. The EPA assessed the risks, costs and benefits of the release of the two BCAs in the context of the environment, market economy, people and communities, public health and on the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, valued flora and fauna, and other taonga. Regarding the environment, we assessed that the benefits from the release of the BCAs would be highly likely to improve biodiversity and reduce the amount of fertiliser used by the pastoral sector. We noted that the impact would be major in areas highly infested by wasps. We concluded that the release of these BCAs could potentially have a high impact on the environment with the decrease of chemical usage and the re-emergence of the native biodiversity.
    [Show full text]