ISSUE 05 | WINTER 2013

AND MOTHS OF NEW ZEALANDBUTTERFLIES

The Honshu White Admiral

FIGHTING FOR NZCan this Japanese import help save our forests?

We visit Muritai School Eastbourne to see how butterflies inspire our

children’s learning

Learn how to locate Monarch

overwintering sites

The Large White butterfly proving to be a large problem

How to make the most of your

photography

IN THIS ISSUE:

CONTENTSEditorial

The Honshu White Admiral – Fighting for NZOur Sponsors

Muritai School Eastbourne enjoys the benefits of butterflies

Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed

Large White a large problem

Gardening with Jane Carver

Auckland Conference 2013

A lesson in photography

Sightings

Monarch overwintering sites need protecting

What’s new book review

Subscription

Annual General MeetingLetter to the EditorAction!Apply for CertificationWantedGoodies to buy

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It is with much excitement we bring you this Winter

magazine. We are sure you will notice lots of improvements.

You’ll find news on two special butterflies – both white, both introduced. One (the White Admiral) is only here on trial and if Landcare gets permission from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it will be released as a bio-control for honeysuckle (Lonicera japonicus) which is becoming a troublesome weed. The MBNZT is preparing a submission on this intended release – you can find some of the discussion about it in the forum on our website. If you have strong feelings in this regard please contact us urgently as the deadline is imminent.

The other butterfly is the Large White (Pieris brassicae) which is making an impact here too. (NOTE: In the past we have referred to it as the ‘Great White’ as named by our government departments but this is confusing as everywhere else in the world it is the ‘Large White’ so we have resolved to use its correct common name in future.) Very sad that the authorities didn’t act when it was first spotted by one of our diligent members 3-4 years ago.

Muritai School at Eastbourne overlooking the harbour at Wellington features this issue. They have used the Monarch as a learning tool throughout their junior area for some years. More of their delightful photographs will be on the website. Remember that if you are a teacher looking for ideas in how to incorporate butterflies in your lesson plans there are some wonderful resources on our website as well as on our Pinterest page – and a Create Butterfly Habitat course is highly recommended.

As Wade Doak (renowned author and photographer of the underwater world) says: “What a gift for teachers the Monarch butterfly is. From a dramatic classroom experience kids can learn how critical host plants are; how complex the inter-relationships in nature are; how exciting the stories that arise can be; how exotic predators threaten native species and more... The Monarch is the key to understanding ecology that all NZ citizens need to be given.”

The trust’s conference was a huge success and there is also a summary of the photography workshop. Thanks to Edith Smith in Florida a presentation was patched together at the last moment when the speaker advised

he could not attend.Tagging is well into its

stride as we put this issue together. We have had some very interesting sightings recorded this year. Once again it confirms that most Monarchs prefer to stay home for the winter.

With a good amount of trust funds invested in the new website we are now looking at exporting the data so far collected to GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) so that scientists around the world can benefit from the information. We urge more people to record their sightings of overwintering clusters and to continue those reports so that we can get a picture of what happens throughout the course of the year. How are they affected by wild weather? Do they stay in one group, move to the other side of the tree, or disperse and go elsewhere? We welcome ongoing feedback.

During April and May the MBNZT held displays at Home Shows in Waitakere and Wellington, thanks to support from Kings Seeds and Fiskars Garden Tools. We met butterfly enthusiasts from all over and quite a few are now members. Congratulations to young Marise Reiher, from Titirangi (who persuaded her parents to join) and Trish Amos, Karori who won the plants – and thanks to Kings Plant Barn, Henderson and Harrisons Country Gardenworld, Waikanae, for their contributions of colourful plants which livened up the stands. Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped out – you know who you are!

By the way, subs are now due and look out for this year’s exciting subscription offer – you could win a pair of brilliant Showa gardening gloves if you pay promptly. Encourage a friend to join and you could also score a pair of McGregor’s stainless steel bypass secateurs!

The addition of sponsors has enabled us to take on the services of a professional designer who will be putting the magazine and other printed resources together in future. We want to thank the extraordinary voluntary efforts of Angela Moon-Jones for her work as well as the other volunteers who help out in all sorts of ways. Kia kaha! If you haven’t had a look at our website lately, you will be very proud at how it’s now looking. If you don’t have access to the internet, ask a friend who does to show you.

And lastly, I would remind you all to support our sponsors – not only those that appear in the magazine but on our website too. We are making a difference, thanks to them and you.

Jacqui Knight

From the EdITOR

Cover photo: Limenitis glorifica – photo by Kaoru Tai

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

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

Treasurer: Carol Stensness treasurer@monarch.org.nz

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

ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) ISSN 2324-2000 (Online)Published by: Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, PO Box 44100Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246www.monarch.org.nztrust@monarch.org.nzFacebook: http://tinyurl.com/mbnzt-faceb00kTwitter: @MonarchTrustPinterest: pinterest.com/mbnzt

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

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After extensive studies Landcare Research has recommended the

introduction of the Honshu White Admiral butterfly, Limenitis glorifica. The Greater Wellington Regional Council has now applied to the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) for permission to import this insect.

Field records in Japan indicate that the caterpillars will not damage other plants in NZ other than honeysuckle. The butterfly has several generations each year and (just like Monarchs) the caterpillars can heavily damage the foliage.

The Honshu White Admiral should not be confused with the Eurasian White Admiral (L. camilla) which has a slightly wider host range. L. glorifica (Asama-ichimonji) is endemic to Japan where it is widely distributed in Honshu from the western lowlands of Yamaguchi

The Honshu White Admiral

FIGHTING FOR NZPrefecture to Shimokita Peninsula in the north. In central Japan it occurs up to 1450 metres elevation but is normally found in the lowlands or up to about 1000 metres above sea level. The butterfly prefers open habitats and willow forest near riverbanks.

“Asama” is a name of a Japanese mountain and the name ‘ichimonji’, refers to the Kanji character for the number 1 which describes the linear pattern of white spots on the butterflies’ wings. The species are familiar butterflies in Japan. L. glorifica is very common at some sites and according to Landcare, if other Lonicera or the closely related Weigela plants were being affected this would almost certainly have been noticed.

A range of tests were conducted at Tsukuba, Japan, and later, using imported eggs, in Landcare’s Lincoln

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a fast emerging weed of concern to regional councils and Department of Conservation. Jacqui Knight investigates if this Japanese native can make a difference. – Photo by Yasuhiro Nakamura (Japan Butterfly Conservation Society)

A big thank you to our magazine sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you.

Research Insect Containment Facility last year. However, the L. glorifica adults did not mate in the laboratory, and testing has been limited. Eggs were collected from honeysuckle in the wild and taken to the laboratory. In Landcare’s bulletin (Issue 54, November 2010) their ecologist Quentin Paynter said that they’d tried all sorts of ways to breed the butterflies – they had even brought a Hawaiian ‘expert’ to NZ.

As the importation would provide another butterfly species to our limited range here in NZ, creating added interest, if the EPA does give their blessing to its introduction let’s hope that it will breed in the wild. The MBNZT will put in a submission on the application and hope that the testing has been rigorous enough to prove without doubt that the butterfly will not affect our indigenous plant life.

Please supportOuR SpONSORS

Limenitis glorifica

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by Barbara Ryan

During 2011, after a teacher brought in a swan plant with a pair of Monarch

chrysalides hanging from it, Muritai School’s Year One and Two students asked these questions.

“What happens to the Monarch butterflies after they hatch? Do they fly away? Will we ever see them again?”

This provided an authentic context for a nature of science investigation to bring butterflies into the playground area where Year 1-4 students spend much of their time. The opportunity to apply to the Bayer Primary School Science Fund to support the project was timely and we were delighted to receive $2000 to cover the cost of construction, planting, gardening tools, books and propagating equipment. Our aim has been to turn a rather ordinary, partially shaded concrete area with wooden bench seating to life with a garden stocked with swan plants and companion planting of nectar-rich plants and flowers so that students can

observe plant and insect life cycles and the relationship between them.

During the summer holidays interested parents, teachers, the school caretaker and a local builder dug out old hedging, built and painted the garden plots and filled them with garden mix. Each of the six junior classes was allocated their own garden plot, with Year 3 and 4 students taking ownership of an already established area nearby.

School membership to the MBNZT provided both teachers and students with information, resources and the guidance we needed. Completing the online Butterfly Gardening Course was invaluable in helping the students select appropriate host and nectar-producing plants. Representatives from each class purchased these on a trip to a local garden centre.

Students are responsible for care and maintenance of their class garden. They are also constantly investigating

and observing plant and insect life cycles, planting seeds, caring for seedlings and transplanting these into their class garden plots.

Butterfly gardening has become a major focus across the school. Older students are regular observers of the

caterpillar and butterfly activity in the junior playground and the younger ones see themselves as the ‘experts’, enthusiastically passing on their

knowledge. Almost all the junior students have observed a caterpillar changing into a chrysalis and, later, watched as the butterfly emerges. It is not uncommon to see a swan plant with caterpillars hanging in their characteristic J

position, about to pupate, in the centre of the classroom, ready for the class to stop what they are doing and watch as it happens.

Parent interest is high and many tell

Artemisia Walcott with life cycle plate

Tilly Rookes with finger puppet

Seren

Lewis

Izzy Kane

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MuRITaI SCHOOl EaSTbOuRNE ENjOySthe benefits of butterflies

us how much they are learning from their children. A number of students now have swan plants to attract butterflies to their gardens at home.

The garden is in its initial stages, with lots of colourful nectar-producing annuals

designed to attract butterflies. These are gradually being supplemented with perennials and larger growing plants. The area is bright and vibrant with flowers and butterflies. Butterflies are tagged by one of the teachers where possible but climatic conditions have resulted in fewer butterflies in our playground this season. We have never seen tagged butterflies other than those

we have tagged ourselves.Muritai School staff frequently comment on how our butterfly

garden provides enrichment opportunities for teachers and students in an authentic context. Our classrooms are brimming with beautiful artwork – observational drawings of Monarch caterpillars and butterflies and 3D models of life cycles. During mathematics, teachers have used patterns on butterfly wings to enhance work on symmetry. We have designed and flown butterfly kites for technology and students have made mosaic tiles for butterflies to warm themselves on. Some have made finger puppets for drama activities.

The garden has provided lots of authentic opportunities for problem-solving. Students have become aware of and sympathetic to the needs of plants and animals as they observe and investigate their life cycles. They constantly ask questions and research ways to solve problems that occur.

A recent problem has been an influx of aphids and the need to control them without harming the caterpillars or butterflies. The students decided on mixing up natural garlic-based spray and were all eager to help with the spraying, despite the garlicky smell wafting through the air!

Lack of rain leading to a watering ban earlier this year led to much discussion! Recycled soft drink bottles with holes drilled in the lids and filled with waste water were tested with much enthusiasm and found very satisfactory! Class leaders watered each day but unfortunately this was not enough and we lost most of our swan plants – leading to the problem of not enough food for the caterpillars. Luckily the caterpillars seemed happy to eat pumpkin but caterpillar and butterfly numbers dwindled. We will now work at replenishing our garden by planting out more swan plant seeds ready for next season.

Our butterfly garden is an important part of our daily life at school and our lives are enriched by it.

Above: Classroom wall

Butterfly art

Helping Joss Patel watering

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Asclepias tuberosabuTTERFly WEEdFor some odd reason this milkweed

species is listed as a banned weed on the government’s weed index which strikes me as very peculiar indeed. In the few years I’ve been growing this plant in pots it has demonstrated that it’s very well behaved, neither spreading vegetatively via underground root stock nor by spreading seeds around the local neighbourhood. Conversely, this year was the first time I had ever had seed pods from it, which I’ve been distributing freely to other people.

At both locations I’ve grown this plant I’ve grown it in river sand as prior to that it rotted in potting mix during the winter so this is the best advice I can give you. You also need to pre chill (stratify) the seeds for 6-8 weeks in moist sand in the fridge prior to germination to significantly improve germination rates.

The first time I grew Butterfly Weed it wasn’t much liked by the Monarch

“At some point in time a plant scientist must have decided

that the species was a risk for naturalisation and becoming a weed. Other Asclepias have established here and it would have been determined that the risks outweighed the

advantages.”– Conrad Black, Senior Advisor at the

Ministry for Primary Industries

surprised me as I was led to believe that this milkweed was self incompatible meaning there would have to be a pollinia exchange between it and another separate plant of the same variety. While I had two different clusters of flowers on the same plant it seems they did fertilise one another effectively because five seed pods formed and grew to maturity. I hope the seeds produced will in fact go on to germinate as a result of this mateship.

There are two flower colours for A. tuberosa: orange and yellow. The root system is a thick carrot-like tap root. The flowers are fragrant and will be visited by a multitude of insects including your stock standard honey bees, bumble bees, wasps and butterflies themselves, who drink the nectar.

My experience of growing this plant indicates that it’s easy to grow in a medium or large pot with river sand as the soil must be free-draining to stop the rot that can occur in soils that retain too much moisture during the winter months when the plant is dormant. A. tuberosa is pretty hardy, dies down to the root stock in Autumn, and re-grows itself in Spring (September). It needs very little maintenance in the growing season and seems to thrive in the river sand that I guess is quite poor in nutrients so I add a handful of lime to the pots when I change the soil every second or third year. This isn’t a big milkweed compared to the others that I grow but I have seen it become the the size of a small shrub in the United States from photos on google.com which shows its potential in ideal growing conditions.

It actually thrives in dryish conditions with minimal water in the growing season and can withstand drought. Seedlings however should not be exposed to those conditions for the first year or two until they have established themselves.

This plant is another lovely milkweed that any gardener will be proud to grow for its beauty, flower colour and scent and Monarch butterfly attraction and I honestly cannot see any reason not to grow it in gardens throughout New Zealand.

butterfly caterpillars that hatched on it. It was actually ignored in favour of my other species of milkweeds as a food source, but this time it was devoured quickly! However my five seed pods survived with my careful patrolling of them this time around.

The fact that I got seed pods at all

Story by Adam Browne – Photos by Gary Stell

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Large White alaRGE pROblEM

Experts say that the Large White butterfly poses a serious threat to native cresses and home and commercial crops.

There are some very rare native cresses that are only found just outside Nelson city. We have around 79 native cress species, 57 of which are at risk of extinction. Federated Farmers is now involved and education efforts are being stepped up.

“Every pastoral farmer in the area could be affected,” said Gavin O’Donnell, President of Federated Farmers, Nelson.

Brassica crops such as chaumolier, rape, kale and turnips are important for fattening sheep and cattle or sustaining milk production in times of less grass growth. According to an item in the Nelson Mail on 8 May Tasman-based Vegetables New Zealand director Mark O’Connor had said that crops worth about $80 million a year were at risk. As well as 4,300 hectares of brassicas grown for sale around the country, there are 850 ha in brassica seed crops and 300,000 ha in field crops.

Wallflowers (Erysium) and Alyssum were suspected to be host species – and already wallflowers are proving to be a host.

Some biological controls are helping the fight. Argentine ants have been taking small caterpillars as well as another introduced social insect helping out. A common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) was seen chopping up a caterpillar. Social wasps are well known generalist predators of other insects, with caterpillars a prime target. Asian paper wasps (Polistes chinensis) are well-known to be predators of the larvae of the Cabbage White, P. rapae and may also be taking some

Story by Jacqui Knight – Photos by Richard Toft

P. brassicae, but this has yet to be observed. The parasitic wasp Cotesia glomerata continues to be very prevalent in the butterfly’s population, with some clusters of caterpillars recording 100% parasitism.

All sightings of P. brassicae should be reported immediately to the MPI on the hotline, 0800 80 99 66.

More than 200 infestations of Pieris brassicae (Large White or as our government departments have named it, the ‘Great White’) were removed from the Nelson area to date – the result of over 6,328 garden searches for the escaped pest.

Large White adult

Large White larvae

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GaRdENING with Jane CarverI have often been asked “What flowers in winter?” It’s

difficult to run a list off the tongue at a moment’s notice so on 26 July last year I ventured outdoors to take photos of the few things in flower.

I surprised myself! There were the obvious pansies, primula, polyanthus and violas, but the more demure species were there in their less obvious outfits.

In the shady corners were the hellebores or so called ‘winter roses’ with their subtle greens and deep reds. I love these treasures and although I have never seen a butterfly on them in July, they are so very pretty and reliable with their generous show of flowers. The bright green bracts of Euphorbia wulfenii were evident showing up beautifully against a dark fence providing a foil for more brightly coloured showstoppers if you’re lucky enough to have any. If subtle colours aren’t your thing then there are the Argyranthemum daisies with their reliable winter show, and the hot colours of polyanthus, geums, gaillardia and pansies.

Annual wallflowers and their cousins the perennial cheiranthus are very hard to beat if you’re looking for butterfly fodder in mid-winter. Both flower reliably only during the colder months. Linaria is an annual winter charmer that will self seed around the perennials and shrubs during the coldest months when all around is dormant. Linaria flowers shyly at first from around May/June and reaches a crescendo in early spring. As soon as the spring warmth begins again Linaria will shrivel and vanish just as the spring glory begins.

Shrubs give substance and structure to the winter garden. There were a number of flowers evident on hebes, kowhai, (Sophora molloyi ‘Dragons Gold’), and Vireya Rhododendrons growing under the frost cover provided by tall evergreen camellias.

I have often seen over-wintering Monarchs nectar feeding on camellia during winter. Buddleia auriculata, valuable for its winter flowers, was covered in insects buzzing each other for space on their nectar-collecting rounds. If Yellow Admirals are around then B. auriculata is where they will be seen taking nectar on a still sunny day in winter. Tree lucerne or tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis), was in full flower and the flowers and seedpods will provide homes to the larvae of our blue butterflies Zizina labradus.

Urtica urens nettle was flowering and full of Admiral butterfly larvae jostling for space with their tell-tale tents made from leaves pulled together.

I haven’t seen butterflies on my winter bulb flowers, but I do welcome early narcissus ‘Erlicheer’ for its fantastic scent. Other early daffodils, tulips, Snowflake (Leucojum vernum) and the earliest of the sparaxis bring visual cheer on the coldest of days.

There are many other flowers for winter and a search on the MBNZT website under midwinter nectar or winter flowers will bring many other ideas.

1. Argyranthemum frutescens; 2. Blue Polyanthus; 3. Geum; 4. Hellebore; 5. Pansies; 6. wallflowers.

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Our third conference was held on Auckland’s Unitec campus in the

middle of March and it was voted a resounding success.

Keynote speakers were Monarch expert Professor Myron Zalucki (from Queensland), NZ lepidopterist Brian Patrick, David G James from the University of Washington – and a late addition to the program, Brian Cutting an entomologist recently arrived in NZ. Brian comes from the eastern coast of the USA and had recently been studying with Douglas Tallamy, a highly respected ecologist and environmental educator. A big thank you to the Auckland Council and Tui Garden Products for helping fund the event.

There was so much to learn! Many of those who attended were primarily Monarch lovers and knew little about NZ’s butterflies and moths – which is why the presentation from Brian Patrick was such an eye-opener. Although Brian has his own ideas on how many species of butterflies NZ boasts, he is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable speaker and passionate about our butterflies and moths. He was pleased that our event was open to talking about other species, not just the Monarch.

Brian said that NZ was ‘...not one of the most diverse places for butterflies in the world – butterflies are generally tropical animals – we are rich in moths.’ He added that ‘...NZ is considered one of the temperate global hotspots. Our species’ richness is high – at least 2,000 butterflies and moths. Over 90% of them only found in NZ.’ and that there was ‘...no difference between butterflies and moths. Butterflies could be called ‘sophisticated moths’... ...no one characteristic – it’s a continuum.’

Myron Zalucki is an old favourite from the early days of the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust, having presented at two previous conferences and once again as an evening speaker in Auckland. He is most interesting and entertaining in the way he presents the historical data he has learned about Monarchs – and he is still learning more about them and the various organisms that affect them.

He told us that ‘...other species have been here for hundreds of thousand if not millions of years...’.

“Monarch parasitism levels range from

Auckland CONFERENCE 2013by Jacqui Knight

more colourful than butterflies.”Three points to stress from the

conference were:• Causes of lepidoptera decline: global

climate change, pollution (chemical, light), hunting/collection, and habitat destruction/deprivation.

• Insects play a critical role in energy transfer.

• Lepidoptera larvae provide food for birds.

Auckland Council who helped to sponsor the conference sent along several personnel who enjoyed the event.

David Bowden, a Volunteer and Biodiversity Coordinator with Auckland Council’s Parks, Sport and Recreation department, says it was great to meet with so many experts in this area.

“We learned what plants attract native butterflies and what threatens their survival,” says David.

“I’m now working on plans to plant areas in parks in Mt Eden and Onehunga to attract native butterflies such as the Red and Yellow Admirals, the Copper butterfly and the Common Blue butterfly.”

There are also plans to create a butterfly garden at Ambury Regional Park, says Ali Meade, Senior Ranger Conservation for Auckland Council’s Regional and Specialist Parks. Ranger Jennifer Lawn attended the conference on the team’s behalf.

“She came back very enthusiastic about what she learned. We will use this knowledge to turn some verges and waste areas that currently have to be mowed into refuges for native insects,” says Ali.

“The aim is to create environments that attract a wide range of native insects, especially New Zealand’s native butterflies. Then we plan to share what we’ve learned with other regional parks so they can develop similar areas.”

With this in mind City Parks, Auckland, is growing a range of host plants including Urtica incisa and U. ferox and sell them to anyone interested in planting them. U. ferox is a tree and ideally suited to a wilder, forested area where it won’t be coming into human contact as the sting is quite deadly. For more information, contact Anna Dadson at City Parks on 09 373 5744.

Other feedback was received in surveys, including: • Information extremely interesting.

Relevance to teaching very appropriate.

• Great speakers. Bags very much appreciated as were cuttings and plants. Wonderful food. Friendly atmosphere.

• Very worthwhile with huge range of speakers, merchandise and giveaways.

“… look at the amazing range of colour and

variety that is in moths – often they are just as colourful as or

more colourful than butterflies.”

11-80 % in winter/spring to 38-99.9 % in summer/autumn.,” he said. “Distribution and abundances of host plant patches will have a dramatic effect on Monarch abundance.”

At the conclusion of the first day, Auckland-based Robert Hoare gave a short and highly entertaining presentation about ten of his favourite moths. Robert’s fascination with moths is partly that they are things that you don’t really see very much.

“Not many people are out at night with butterfly nets, and not many people sort of really take a great deal of interest in what is attracted to their bathroom window. But look at the amazing range of colour and variety that is in moths – often they are just as colourful as or

Top: Female Aponotoreas synclinalisMiddle: Male Aenetus virescens

Above: Female Arctesthes catapyrrhaPhotos by: Birgit Rhode, Landcare

Research’s larger moths image gallery.

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A lesson inpHOTOGRapHyIt was with dismay that we heard – a few days short of

the conference – that the man who was to share ideas for photographing butterflies and moths would not be at the event. We fell back on the use of notes from Edith Smith, a very highly respected lepidopterist from Florida who had led courses in the subject before. Here are some of the top points she shared with us, together with some local advice from Norm Twigge:

1. Remember that butterflies are seasonal – you’ll find them between November and April in New Zealand. They’re sun-loving so look for them on warm sunny days with little or no wind.

2. It’s no good looking for a forest butterfly on the coast- you’ll find them in their preferred habitat and near their host plants. River beds are often a great place to visit. Coppers can be found in coastal areas and also in inland bush areas. Blues can be found on the edges of rural roads as well as parks and reserves. Both Red and Yellow Admirals will be found visiting gardens looking for nectar. The Ringlets are mostly confined to the South Island, from grassland plateaus to higher altitudes. The Lewis Pass is noted for being accessible and butterfly-friendly.

3. ALWAYS have your camera handy. Many a good shot is missed by having to search for the camera. Have a net handy and catch the butterfly. In the field some photographers will give the butterfly a quick whiff of ether to slow them down. Or chilling a butterfly in the refrigerator for a few minutes and it will be too cool to fly away while you get your photograph. It will open its wings to warm up in the sunlight.

4. According to Norm Twigge, there is no quick magic recipe to finding butterflies, it is a matter of studying your subject and looking in the most likely place. It has been often said that ‘one has to be in the right place at the right time to be successful’. This is borne out by the fact that apart from a few common butterflies, there are very few good shots of our endemic butterflies.

5. Choose your background – the side of a house is not always attractive. Ensure it shows your subject to best advantage – do you want the subject to blend in or stand out? The appropriate background can change the whole point of the photograph. Do you want to emphasise camouflage? A busy background detracts from the subject.

6. Shadows can add to or subtract from a photograph. Deep shadow, half shadow or full sun can dramatically

change the message. Although you can digitally enhance photographs sometimes you can no longer see the subject clearly. If you are on the sunny side of the butterfly the colours will show to best advantage.

7. Focus on the subject – if you want to emphasise the background, e.g. a mass of wildflowers, then focus on them. You can tell a different story if you focus on the predator... or its half-eaten prey! If shooting from the side of a butterfly with closed wings ensure you are at 90 degrees (parallel) or it will be out of perspective.

8. Centre your subject? The general rule is one-third rather than having your subject in the centre – but it’s your decision, tell the story you want. Capturing a flying butterfly can tell a different story: coming, going or flight.

9. Be unique – take photos from different angles. Add dew, mist, raindrops or pollen – or shoot from an unusual angle. A caterpillar looks so different when you shoot its face. Anyone can take photos of spiders from above – but look at it in the eyes or mouth for a different angle!

10. Add an everyday object such as a pen to illustrate size.11. Take more than the usual number of photographs – the

beauty of digital photography.12. Move slowly, use subterfuge... don’t alarm your subject or

the opportunity is lost.13. Your shutter speed will either freeze a butterfly in flight

or allow a bit of blur to show motion. Focus on a still butterfly... and as soon as it moves, release the shutter.

14. Take a kit of fake backgrounds with you in the field – rolls of paper and an easel. Blurred or marbled colours can be very attractive – the colours will not detract from your subject. If taking photos for a magazine cover or calendar, remember to include enough background for the end purpose. A full page in a magazine has portrait orientation while a calendar is usually landscape.

15. For print work always shoot in maximum resolution. It is easy to reduce the resolution for email or the web but you can never increase it. More dpi (dots per inch) means larger file size.

16. But remember to please yourself. Photograph what you want and how you want it to give yourself maximum pleasure.

A. B. C. D. E.

Main photo above – Autumn colours by Martin Woodhall. Photos below – A. Munching Monarch by Jacqui Knight; B. Looking for a home by Martin Woodhall; C. Swan’s hat by Anna Barnett; D. The Silk Factory by Martin Woodhall; E. Chrysalis on glass showing web byMartin Woodhall.

by Jacqui Knight, Edith Smith and Norm Twigge

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At the turn of the millennium UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern at changes that were occurring

to our environment. At his instigation, thousands of experts and citizen scientists worldwide have commenced data collection. The results provide a snapshot of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide (such as clean water, food, forest products, flood control, and natural resources) and also the options to restore, conserve or enhance the sustainable use of ecosystems.

Human actions often lead to irreversible losses in the diversity of life, and these losses have been more rapid in the past 50 years than ever before in human history. The two main destroyers of biodiversity are habitat destruction and spread of alien invasive species but others include climate change, over-exploitation and pollution.

Some of this data is stored in GBIF, the global biodiversity information facility. GBIF encourages free and open access to biodiversity data through the internet. It’s an international government-initiated and funded initiative. And when the MBNZT set up the collection of data about butterflies six years ago we made sure that our data would be compatible with any facility such as GBIF. Anyone can go to our special webpage, www.mb.org.nz, and record a sighting of a butterfly, moth or pest – including tagged Monarch butterflies.

About the same time as the MBNZT set up our sightings database the NZ Biodiversity Recording Network was setting up a system for sightings of plants, animals and fungi. Keen personnel from Landcare Research and Lincoln University led the project and were able to amass several hundred thousand

SIGHTINGS by Jacqui Knight

observations, mostly of birds, fungi, and plants, thus increasing the knowledge of the natural history of NZ. However, a few years later the system was creaking at the seams; it was time for a change. And that spawned NatureWatch NZ, http://naturewatch.org.nz .

NatureWatch NZ is a great place where you can learn about NZ animals, plants, and fungi. Previously everyone’s notes have been scattered in notebooks, private spreadsheets and on dusty library shelves. Now a living record of life in NZ can be put together so that changes in biodiversity can be monitored and we can learn more about NZ’s amazing natural history. You can see a summary of some recent discoveries and bizarre novelties on http://nzbrn.blogspot.com.

The MBNZT database is compatible with NatureWatch NZ. When you record a sighting on the MBNZT page the data is also stored in NatureWatch NZ. Sightings of interest to lepidopterists are copied into the MBNZT database.

NatureWatch NZ also has an app, an application for use on iPhones (and soon other smartphones). For those people with iPhones it’s marvellous. You see a butterfly and/or moth (or for that matter, any organism – native or exotic), and you report it on the spot. You may add the exact location of your sighting automatically via GPS if you wish – or you may wish to keep the location private. You can also take a photograph of what you see and post this at the same time – so that others can identify the species for you if you can’t.

All of this to help the future of our butterflies and moths and other natural history. If you haven’t recorded a sighting yet, have a go. It’s easy, and it’s fun.

11

How safe from development are the trees used by Monarch butterflies as

overwintering sites? In some cases not very, it would seem, as a recent report claimed an overwintering tree was felled near the Hutt River.

This report sparked the idea that perhaps we could do something to raise awareness of where such overwintering trees are and from that we can work towards a scheme to protect these trees, perhaps having them included in Councils’ District Plans as ‘Trees of Significance’.

The project is under way, with all the

Monarch overwintering sites

NEEd pROTECTING

Taggers this year have all been entered into a draw to win a very special prize: to celebrate its 130th birthday Yates has released a commemorative seed tin containing ten packets of heritage seed varieties. The artwork on the tin is based on Yates seed packets from the first half of the 20th Century and the seeds all found in the 1880s Yates seed catalogues which Arthur Yates began to produce soon after he opened his first shop in Auckland in 1883. RRP $20. Yates has given the MBNZT five of these to give away – we will announce the lucky recipients in the Spring magazine.

by Joanna McVeagh

reported sightings of overwintering sites in NZ currently being collated and mapped. But we need your help! It is important to be able to identify which of the reported sites are established overwintering sites: that is, used each year. If it can be determined that particular sites are used by the butterflies year after year it will have much more significance when it comes to seeking protection for the site. One in Avalon (Lower Hutt) we know about has been recognised as a site used every year since 1989!

So, if you have reported an overwintering site before, please revisit it if you can and try to determine if it is still used by the Monarchs.

Our records show overwintering colonies throughout the country, including:

South Island – Timaru, Hokitika, Westport, Christchurch, Nelson

North Island – Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapiti Coast, Masterton, Palmerston North, Hawera, Waverly, New Plymouth, Napier, Rotorua, Otorohanga, Raglan, Waiuku, Tauranga, Opotiki, Auckland, Warkworth, Waimate North, Kaeo, Kaitaia, Whangarei.

We feel sure they will be in other areas too, so your help in locating them is vital.

If you know of an overwintering site and have not reported it to MBNZT please do so. It’s dead easy, go to www.mb.org.nz and record the information. The more data we have the better it will be. Talk to people about Monarchs; ask if they have seen any clusters of butterflies hanging in trees during the winter and get the location. It’s amazing what you can find out! In the last month I have been directed to three sites, just

because I ask people I’m chatting to if they know of any. None of these sites have been previously reported and they are within a 2 km radius of Masterton!

If you have never seen an overwintering Monarch cluster perhaps you could make it your mission to try and spot one this winter! Clusters also provide a great chance to see tagged butterflies! Record the number if you can (a photo is great as you can zoom in on it) and add your sighting to the website.

Take the dog, your children or just yourself and choose a mild, calm winter’s day and pick an area where there are established trees. Parks, school grounds, riverside walks are all good. Look for groups of trees which include evergreens, especially conifers like cedars, macrocarpas or lawsoniana. Butterflies like trees which are sheltered and you often find clusters on the sunny side.

It is easy to miss an overwintering tree: the butterflies hang quite still, looking very like autumn leaves and it takes a bit of prior knowledge or a very sharp eye to spot them. But take the time to stop and look up – the tell-tale sign is when you see a Monarch or two fluttering about enjoying the winter sun. Watch where it lands – the clusters are usually about four or more metres above the ground. Note down the location and what species of tree the cluster is in, if you can.

An overwintering cluster can number many hundreds – or more! So it is important that these sites are preserved whenever possible as they hold the foundation of the next generation of Monarchs bringing pleasure and delight to so many.

Tag and

WIN

Left: Monarch cluster, Port Waikato by Jacqui Church;

Above: Overwintering Cluster, Apollo Park by Paul Vandenberg

12

WHaT’S NEW

Te Anuhe Tino Hiakai is the Maori version of the very well known

award-winning children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, first published in 1969, which has sold more than 30 million copies over the years and has been translated into at least 40 languages.

Now Huia Publishers has brought this simple story, so loved by children everywhere in the world, to the many Kiwi children learning the Maori language in Aotearoa. There are more than 600 schools in New Zealand teaching some or all of their curriculum in Te Reo, and books like this one are essential to inspiring young students learning about the world around them.

The story of the hungry green caterpillar from the day he hatches from an egg and feeds his ravenous appetite by eating everything in sight until he is big enough to form a pupa and eventually emerge as a colourful butterfly is simply told, and will be suitable to the youngest child through to preschool age.

Its large colourful illustrations are well complemented by the cheerful humorous storyline and the book will give tamariki (children) the opportunity to learn the

Danaus plexippus is the real name for the Monarch butterfly and you

will learn everything there is to know about this butterfly in the revised edition of The Monarch Butterfly of New Zealand.

This book is in response to the unique educational opportunity that the Monarch offers and is a must have for any science class or backyard nature enthusiast of all ages. With captivating photographs and illustrations, each part of the life cycle is clearly depicted and fully detailed in the text.

We are fortunate that the Monarch

days of the week, numbers and counting as well as first words in Maori. Of course the plants eaten by the hungry caterpillar are fictional, and especially not accurate in terms of NZ native plants, but that brings a challenge to Kiwi educators to provide additional information and resources to complement this book, to explain the metamorphosis

of caterpillar to butterfly in terms of NZ’s native butterflies. Wouldn’t it be

wonderful to see even more schools and Kohanga Reo developing butterfly gardens around the country? And what a wonderful project it would be for some of our knowledgeable experts in the MBNZT to work with their local Kohanga Reo to create their own butterfly garden!

The publisher is to be congratulated on their commitment to increasing the educational resources in the Maori language. This copy, gifted by Huia for review, will be donated to a Kohanga Reo in Auckland.

Reviewed by Gloria Williams HawkeISBN 9781775500483 by Carle, Eric, translated by Morris, Brian. 28 pages, paperback, full colour illustrations, published by Huia Publishers RRP $20

Book Review

butterfly makes such an ideal nature study and this book examines in detail

the Monarch’s habits, special features, behaviours and means of survival as well as how it arrived in New Zealand which is a history lesson on its own.

Anyone wishing to raise Monarchs in captivity or in their garden will find all you need to know in this concise little book.

Reviewed by Angela Moon-JonesISBN 9780473239206 by Gibbs, George, 56 pages, paperback, colour photographs, published by

Entomological Society of New Zealand RRP $25.00 MBNZT Price $29.00 but that includes the postage and packaging.

13

It’s time to renew your annual membership or become a new member of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust (previously called the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust) from only $25.00. Become a member before the 30th August and be in to win one of 50 pairs of Showa 370 Colours Gardening Gloves worth $14.95. If you join up a friend or family

member as well, you will also be in to win one of 20 McGregor’s Secateurs worth $20.50.

❑ Yes please join me up as a member to receive the quarterly magazine by email for $25 OR❑ Yes please join me up as a member to receive the printed quarterly magazine by post for $35GIFT MEMBERSHIP❑ Yes please join my friend up as a member to receive the quarterly magazine by email for $25 OR❑ Yes please join my friend up as a member to receive the printed quarterly magazine by post for $35 ❑ Yes I wish to make a donation to MBNZT (state amount) $________❑ Yes I wish to pre-order the 2014 Calendar for $25 GRAND TOTAL $____________HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAY?❑ Cheque – please make cheques payable to MBNZT, P O Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1266. ❑ Direct Credit by internet banking to Kiwibank 38 9009 0654693 00 (quote surname and postcode).

Showa gloves have been designed for use in the toughest of conditions and offer the ultimate mix of comfort and dexterity. Showa 370 colours are lightweight yet tough, fit like a second skin and machine washable. Available in all leading supermarkets, garden, farm and hardware stores.

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McGregor’s provides New Zealanders with a full range of great value for money gardening products. McGregor’s stainless steel bypass secateurs have a precision ground blade capable of cutting up to 19mm with a 5 year guarantee. Find McGregor’s at most leading garden outlets and hardware stores.

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MY DETAILS: Mr / Mrs / Ms

First Name: _________________________________________________________

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GIFT MEMBERSHIP: Mr / Mrs / Ms

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*$25.00 for on-line magazine. $35.00 for printed magazine.

Dear Jacqui Knight

We enjoyed the Create Butterfly Habitat course very much. Last spring we made a butterfly garden on an empty site where an earthquake demolished building had stood. Unfortunately we had no Monarch butterflies visit this garden because of the frost and snow having killed the population. We are going to expand our garden and we are over-wintering swan plants inside.

Haidee and Alice Springston, Christchurch

Haidee and Alice

15

The MBNZT has been busy over the past three months since the conference. Early in May I had the opportunity to be visiting Wellington and seized an opportunity for a half-hour presentation to WWF staff there during one of their national hui. I provocatively titled my presentation ‘Saving the World one butterfly at a time’ and began by posing the question ‘Why are Monarch butterflies more important than kiwi, kereru, kokako, kauri, dolphins and whales?’. They didn’t shoot me down with a harpoon but suggested a few answers before I told them (with a smile) that none are more important – but the one benefit in introducing children to Monarch butterflies in their early school years is that it teaches them so much about conservation, metamorphosis, ecology, nature and values such as kindness, gentleness and empathy. They can be a hands-on learning in conservation, they’re common and virtually ‘free’. Just plant a swan plant and they will come. They teach management skills, and they’re a brilliant first lesson in farming... after all, farmers know that they must have plenty of food

There were 23 financial members, and 23 others at the AGM held in Mt Albert. The rules were altered to adopt our new name, the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. The report from the trustees, audited accounts and strategic plan were presented and all adopted, and the annual subscriptions for 2013-24 set at $25 (for members who accessed the magazine as a pdf on line) and $35 (for paper copies sent through the mail).

We are keen to have more trustees on the Board but the trustees have since decided that with two of them travelling over the winter, the time to discuss the addition of more trustees

More Board Members (Trustees)Do you have a passion for butterflies and conservation? Are you a future thinker? Do you enjoy strategic thinking? Do you want to make a difference? If you answer yes then we want to hear from you. For more information contact us now, please, trust@monarch.org.nz.

Event OrganisersWe need two of three people to help organise a unique event in Auckland later this year. We would like to put in the groundwork now to ensure it runs very smoothly... but on the day you will get to enjoy the experience. Can’t say too much at this point, but for more information contact me now, please, jacqui@monarch.org.nz.

Does your garden or habitat look like a great place for butterflies?

You might like to apply for certification and add a plaque to your garden boasting to visitors that all butterflies and moths are welcome there. For more information, check out the website: http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/projects/certified-butterfly-gardenhabitats/certification/

if they’re going to have healthy livestock.I went on to remind the WWF

personnel how much WWF in Mexico, Canada and the USA have invested in Monarchs and the migration through the Monarch Butterfly Fund, and discussed ways in which we could work together to our mutual benefit in the future. It was a very positive meeting.

Our three-day shows at Waitakere and Wellington were also very rewarding. Not only did I meet new people but it was fantastic meeting people who we’ve only corresponded with before – or met at previous gatherings. Congratulations to young Marise Reiher, from Titirangi (who persuaded her parents to join) and Trish Amos, Karori who won the plants – and thanks to Kings Plant Barn, Henderson and Harrison Country Gardenworld, Waikanae, for their contributions of colourful plants which livened up the stands. Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped out – you know who you are!

We hope to do more work like this in the future – but it depends on my getting time off work to do the leg-work of organising and setting up and breaking down the exhibit, and also having enough volunteers help talk to people.

I have just written an article for ‘Commercial Horticulture’ about

swan plant and what garden centres and nurseries can do to build better customer relationships by not selling sprayed swan plants. There’s also an article about our organisation for an American Butterfly Course being held on line: they are interested in our work over here.

As I write this I am in the Far North and plan to have meetings over the next few weeks with members and contacts in Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Whangarei, as well as presenting to a Rotary Club and a gardening club at Coatesville.

Congratulations to Owen Arnst and Pete Johnson, Seven Oaks School; Linda Cotton; Gus Flower; Shannon Gould; Sue Jones; Kim Jensen, Pongakawa School; Kay Langdon; Mt Biggs School; Cate Nortier and Corran Vincent for recently completing the on line ‘Create Butterfly Habitat’ course. Another on line ‘Create Butterfly Habitat’ course is due to start shortly. They’re proving to be very popular – more information here: http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/projects/certified-butterfly-gardenhabitats/butterfly-gardening-course/

WaNTEd

aCTION!

– we need your helpApply for

2013 Annual General Meeting

CERTIFICaTION

lETTERwould be more appropriate on their return.

Mary Parkinson suggested that a membership drive be initiated and you will see that this is under way. We welcome new members – and there is an incentive for you to invite more people on board. Each time you introduce a new financial member your name will be entered into the draw for a pair of McGregor’s secateurs!

The MBNZT will focus on raising the awareness of the organisation and its aims with gardening clubs and schools.

For the minutes check out our website, http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/members/agm-2013/

to the editor

Caterpillar castlesNo more escaping caterpillars with a caterpillar castle! Collapsible, lightweight and durable, they fold almost flat. And they’re washable, you can use 10% bleach solution to sanitise before reuse. Five sides have fine mesh to promote healthy air flow. One clear vinyl full side window enables easy viewing of contents. The fine mesh will stop wasps and other nasty predators. The fabric will wick away moisture fast to keep contents dry. Large protected, zippered opening for easy access. Proven design used to raise thousands of healthy butterflies.

Large castles (33cm x 33cm x 60cm) are a good size for 10-20 caterpillars. Cost (including post & packing) is $33 for financial members and $38 for non-financial members.

Jumbo castles (60cm x 60cm x 90cm) make excellent flight cages – you can leave your butterflies in there (up to 100) with nectar flowers until the weather is fine. $60 for financial members, $65 for non-financial.

GOOdIES TO buy

CalendarStunning photographs and information about NZ’s butterflies and moths. Each month has a full A4 page, showing holidays and with room to write special appointments. Back cover shows all photographs.

2014 available in October – each calendar comes with its own envelope, ready to post to friends or family. Above is a sneak preview of the cover, featuring a Common Blue (Zizina otis) on hawkweed. $25 (incl p&p).

Seeds – $5 per packet• Butterfly Mix is a blend of wildflowers, annuals, which will provide nectar for butterflies and bees as well as a block of mixed colour in your garden.

• Gomphocarpus physocarpus or the ‘Giant Swan Plant‘. More robust, and more resistant to

the onslaught of the caterpillars, much more resilient than the Swan Plant (G. fruticosus).

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

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

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

Kiwiana Monarch ButterflyA beautiful Monarch butterfly, brand new but as seen in the 1950s – every second house had one on an exterior wall.

Orange, black and white or any colour you desire! Made of outdoor-treated plywood and painted with exterior housepaint. Antennae are pipe cleaners. They come with screws for attaching to walls etc.

Large are 415 mm wide – $62.50 posted to a North Island address, or $67.50 to South Island

Medium 320 mm wide – $51.50 (incl p&p)Small 240 mm wide – $41 (incl p&p)

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

Your purchase supports the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust

A. incarnata

A. curassavica

CalENdaR 2014

TO plaCE aN ORdER