Table of Contents
- 1 What type of butterflies are in NZ?
- 2 How many species of butterflies are there in New Zealand?
- 3 Are monarch butterflies native to New Zealand?
- 4 What butterfly eats nettles?
- 5 Is the monarch butterfly native to New Zealand?
- 6 What do monarch butterflies eat in New Zealand?
- 7 What’s the difference between butterflies and moths in New Zealand?
- 8 How did butterflies become extinct in New Zealand?
What type of butterflies are in NZ?
Native butterfly species
- The Red Admiral is found only in New Zealand. Its Māori name is kahukura, which means “red cloak”.
- Yellow admiral sitting on a harakeke (flax) leaf.
- Long-tailed blue butterfly.
- Rauparaha’s copper butterfly.
- Coastal copper butterfly.
- Glade copper butterfly.
How many species of butterflies are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand species There are about 2,000 types of native New Zealand butterflies and moths. More than 90% are found nowhere else – this is the highest proportion of unique butterflies and moths in the world. Another 68 types have been introduced since European settlement.
What is the most common butterfly?
Painted Lady butterfly
Painted Lady- Vanessa cardui. How to identify: The Painted Lady butterfly in orange and brown in color with mottled brown spot and 4 large eyespots. Where is it found? They are the most common butterfly in the world and found throughout the world except in Antarctica, Australia and South America.
Are monarch butterflies endangered in NZ?
Although found in many places around the world, the monarch is considered a New Zealand native because it became established here on its own. Monarch in New Zealand are threatened by their dependence on swan plants. Without these plants, monarchs could not breed here.
Are monarch butterflies native to New Zealand?
New Zealand’s most identifiable butterfly is the monarch (Danaus plexippus). Although found in many places around the world, the monarch is considered a New Zealand native because it became established here on its own.
What butterfly eats nettles?
‘Nettles are the food plant for the caterpillars of red admiral, small tortoiseshell, painted lady and comma butterflies. ‘It’s important to treat your nettles like any other garden plant if you are growing for the benefit of butterflies. Cut them regularly to get good fresh growth from the nettles. ‘
Does New Zealand have butterflies?
The butterflies of New Zealand include twelve endemic species, as well as several introduced and migrant species. Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths, is the third largest insect order in New Zealand.
Where do New Zealand Monarch butterflies go in the winter?
Where do New Zealand monarch butterflies go for the winter? New Zealand monarchs migrate to local overwintering grounds in more temperate NZ locations including Christchurch and Tauranga Bay. The temperature in these regions doesn’t typically go below 10° C or 50° F.
Is the monarch butterfly native to New Zealand?
What do monarch butterflies eat in New Zealand?
milkweed
In NZ the natural food species of the monarch (Danaus plexippus) larvae is the Asclepiadiae family – milkweed which includes swan plant (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) and giant swan plant (G. physocarpus) as well as Asclepias species such as tropical milkweed/bloodflower (A. curassavica).
What kind of butterflies fly in New Zealand?
Many New Zealand moths fly during the day or at dusk. The black mountain ringlet butterfly holds its wings flat while at rest. Some New Zealand butterflies are drab, and most people would call them moths. One sure way to distinguish the two in New Zealand (this does not apply globally) is that all native butterflies have clubbed antennae.
Why are monarch butterflies important to New Zealand?
So the Monarch is an excellent ambassador for getting people interested. Once you have fallen in love with the Monarch, and learn more about them, it is our hope that this interest will extend out to the other butterfly species of New Zealand, most of which are in far more danger than the Monarch.
What’s the difference between butterflies and moths in New Zealand?
Some New Zealand butterflies are drab, and most people would call them moths. One sure way to distinguish the two in New Zealand (this does not apply globally) is that all native butterflies have clubbed antennae. Essentially, however, there is no consistent difference between butterflies and moths.
How did butterflies become extinct in New Zealand?
Very little is known about any butterfly extinctions since human settlement of New Zealand since they leave few remains. The majority of New Zealand invertebrates are found in forests so it is likely that some butterflies became extinct due to the large scale forest clearance after human settlement.