1Issue 04 | autumn 2013 ISSN 2324-1993 (Print) | ISSN 2324-2000 (Online)

Astella Zigzag Moth 02

Ecofest 03

Milkweed 04

Book Review 05

Echinacea and friends 06

Great White Butterfly Hunt 07

Apollo Park 08

Over the Years 09

Monarchs in the UK 10

Our Shop 11

Book Review 11

On line Course 11

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One of New Zealand’s most enigmatic moths is the astelia zigzag moth Charixena iridoxa (Family Glyphipterigidae). The adults are seldom seen, most likely because they fly relatively early in the season, and fly fast in their remote habitats. They have a purplish sheen with yellow markings.

The distinctive and conspicuous zigzag tracks on several species of large lily-like Astelia signal the presence of the white larvae – it is boring within the base of the plant into the newly forming leaves. The larvae remains within the base but its presence is revealed by feeding damage that is transported with the elongating leaves. Eventually the damage exposed on the long leaves is up to a metre long.

When the larvae is full-grown at about 21mm it forms a cocoon between two leaves, on the surface of a forming leaf, still deep within the plant base. As the leaf with the pupae grows in length it carries the pupae above ground level and eventually high on the plant where it eventually hatches to produce a fine moth. We first see the brown cocoon filling a small depression on the underside of a leaf adjacent to the zigzag marks. Based on observations at several places from Mounts Taranaki and Ruapehu in the North Island, and many localities in the South Island, it is apparent that the larvae require at least two years to become fully mature. But adult emergence is not totally synchronised as adults appear to emerge every year at several localities that have been closely studied.

Cover

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The exquisite small adults emerge in October-December and fly by day in their habitat. Few are ever seen. I have only seen it once – flying in low alpine shrubland at Arthurs Pass in late November in bright sunshine with zigzag sign on most clumps of Astelia nervosa nearby.

First discovered by Alfred Philpott, one of our finest moth-men, in Fiordland on 29 December 1914, it was another seven years before rearing of the long-known larvae in Astelia confirmed this larval damage was the work of this newly discovered moth. Its life-history was elucidated and described by Morris Watt of Dunedin in 1921 with his detailed paper published in 1924. Watt noted the moth was one our most beautiful and striking moths.

The species is distributed from the mountains of Stewart Island, widely on the east and west of the main divide of the South Island and to the central North Island mountains, and judging by the commonness of its larval sign is often very numerous, although seldom seen. There are a few interesting outlier populations in the eastern South Island; one we recently discovered on Banks Peninsula at 600m in low forest under-storey and feeding on Astelia fragrans. Around Dunedin, the species has been found on Mount Cargill at 600m and also near sea-level on the Cargill Cliffs of the city. Again further south in The Catlins the species is found on coastal cliffs at several places.

This is one of our rarely seen but beautiful moths, with a fascinating life-history and that thankfully needs no assistance from us to conserve it.

- Brian Patrick

Monarch Butterfly nZ trust PO Box 44100 Pt Chevalier Auckland 1246 www.monarch.org.nz, trust@monarch.org.nz

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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monarch-Butterfly-New-Zealand-Trust/102560346481084?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonarchTrust

ecofest at owaka

Natalie receives her prize in the Insect Costume ContestShelby from Waimate receives her prize in the Insect Costume Contest

It has rained almost every day since Gordon and Janine Thompson opened their conservation business in the Catlins but they are not letting it dampen their enthusiasm.The Bugfest at Earthlore, in Owaka, was a great day.Strong public interest prompted Gordon and Janine to develop their enterprising business, an insect-themed activity park and it’s becoming quite a tourist attraction in a remote area of the Catlins.“Although we have regular jobs and enjoy our time relaxing afterwards on our 4ha block,” said Gordon, “but we decided to do something for tourists and found that nobody was doing anything about insects,” said Gordon “They used their backgrounds in horticulture and sign writing to create a bug city, giving insects personalities. Butterfly, moth, grass and wetland habitats were created and 0.1ha transformed into “Bug City”, where everything is built from an insect’s perspective.

The creative couple also designed activities to keep visitors entertained at Earthlore, such as bug frisbee and a character called Inspector Insector.“The inspector’s mission is to investigate mysteries of the insect world, particularly those that happen in Bug City . . . and he is always on the lookout for junior investigators to help. Inpector Insector was a great hit at Bugfest. At Bugfest the highlights this year were the caterpillar parade and the ‘Dress as a Bug’ contest. About 200 people attended.“There were at least five carloads from Dunedin and people from Lawrence, Tapanui, Gore and Invercargill,” said Janine. “One wee fellow badgered his mother to bring him down all the way from Waimate.”There was also a release of butterflies which went down very well.A great success! Well done, Gordon and Janine... and Inspector Insector of course.

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Asclepias sullivantii or Prairie Milkweed is a well behaved milkweed in the

swan plant family. I’ve had it growing in containers and now in the flower garden for about a decade and they grow a bit taller every year and put out bunches of flowers that are individually bigger than those of its close relative common milkweed.

Once again the flowers of this milkweed will only set seed pods if the pollinia from one flower is extracted by a bee and reinserted into the flower of a separate plant of the exact same variety. Although I have had several individual plants flowering at the same time, I have never had a seed pod form. My guess is that all these plants came from the same seed pod themselves and are too closely related to form a pod between them. I hope I’m proved wrong.

Prairie milkweed is gracious in appearance as its leaves that grow in pairs either side of the stem have an upward sweep that give it a kind of precocious or distinctly ‘upper class’ pose. It grows up to 1 metre in height and the underground rhizome doesn’t appear to spread much from the original planting site unlike its cousin

common milkweed. As it ages it does stick up more stems but they seem to be located in much the same place as you’d expect it to be where you planted it. Its flowers are also larger and would appear to contain a lot of nectar as the bumble bees seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on them and sometimes get their feet stuck in the flower’s slits. The flowers are deliciously fragrant and pink in colour too.

This is a well behaved milkweed that likes well-drained but moist soil in the growing season and is frequented with monarchs who sip nectar from the flowers.

The caterpillars will scoff the leaves up in no time at all if you let them! I would highly recommend this milkweed to monarch enthusiasts and gardeners alike as the only negative thing going for this plant is it needs staking/protecting from strong winds!

From memory, butterflyencounters.com everwilde.com and georgiavines.com all have the seeds of this milkweed available to purchase online from the U.S. They do need stratification (chilling in moist soil/sand) in the fridge first for 6-8 weeks for good germination rates!

Milkweed growing by Adam Browne

Asclepias sullivantii or Prairie Milkweed

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Brian and Hamish Patrick’s recently released book ‘Butterflies of the South Pacific’ should be on the shelves of every New Zealand and South Pacific naturalist and butterfly addict. Besides providing updated information on New Zealand butterflies, as the name depicts it illustrates and describes in detail butterflies from South Pacific islands also.

Anyone travelling on holiday to Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii or other Pacific island retreats will have an accurate reference at their disposal, and with almost everyone these days equipped with either a camera, or cellphone with camera facility, it is a simple task to photograph a butterfly which can then be later identified from the many excellent photographs and illustrations in the book.

The Australian migrant butterflies that arrive in NZ from time to time are covered, and the NZ Copper butterflies are revealed to show more diverse forms than previously considered, with several being elevated from sub-species to species status, as are other South Island ringlet species.

Excellent photographs of butterfly habitats are included, with items of interest such as gardening to support butterflies, ranching butterflies, conservation and education. This book is highly recommended to all, whether your interest is in butterflies or just nature in general.

Published by: Otago University Press Hardback: 210 x 170 mm, 240 pages, colour ISBN: 978 1 877578 04 5 Price: RRP $49.99

- Norm Twigge

Imagine if you could taste with your feet or hear with your knees! Some insects can, and this is just one of the fascinating facts you will learn as you wander the streets of BUG CITY, helping Inspector Insector to solve insect mysteries.

Or laugh your way through one of the world’s wackiest games - we call it BUG FRISBEE.

While you are here, why not help to grow a home for some of New Zealand’s unique native insects? Sponsor the planting of a habitat plant in our Insect Conservation Habitat for just $30.

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.earthlore.co.nz

Book Review: Butterflies of the South Pacific

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Let me tell you about three great plants which come into their own at the peak of summer, and will give you lasting

blooms, rich in nectar, as summer turns to autumn. Mostly perennials, they are members of the Aster (daisy) family, and provide a wonderful landing pad for butterflies as they search for nectar. All three made a stunning display at our exhibit at the Ellerslie International Flower Show last year, with their simply stunning array of hot chocolate, tan, orange and yellow flowers – and a pink or twol.

Echinacea or coneflowers have large, showy heads. They come from North America and the spiny central cone resembles a hedgehog which is where they get their name (Greek ‘echinos’). Most of us will know that Echinacea is used in natural medicines. Flowers come in pinks, purples, oranges and yellows, and the petals mostly drape downwards, falling away from the central ‘cone’ like a ballerina’s tutu.

Echinacea plants are best grown in average, medium, well-drained but not over-dry soil. They like a sunny position but must not be left to dry out in the first two or three years of establishment. Once the central tap root forms, these plants will be far more drought tolerant. Mark the position of your dormant Echinacea as the plant will seemingly vanish. Marking their position will aid in spring care and pest control. The newer red, yellow and orange Echinacea are not as hardy as the older varieties such as E. purpurea ‘White Swan’ but if you can keep the new colours going through winter, they will brighten any border.

I thought I had lost my newer E. ‘Tomato Soup’ this last winter, but it has reappeared. Clumps can be divided when they become overcrowded (about every four years).

Gaillardia’s common name is the blanket flower, evidently named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th Century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. The colours resemble the brightly patterned blankets made by native Americans. In America the species are host plants to numerous moths, but not so in NZ – the flowers are only used as a source of nectar. Flowers tend to be smaller than Echinacea and Rudbeckia – and there are usually more of them. They are extremely drought tolerant and tough for those hot and dry areas of the garden. They are tough and extremely easy care, preferring a moist, well-drained soil, but they will tolerate drought and even sandy conditions. Relatively quick to establish they are hardy and forgiving of poor growing conditions.

Rudbeckia is a close relative of Echinacea and comes in a range of hot colours. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Baby’ is a dramatic variety in shades of cherry red. The robust

plants are outstanding in the summer garden, tolerating heat, drought and poor soils. Water regularly if planting in a container or in its first few years of life. ‘Prairie Sun’ has sunny yellow blooms with lemon tips and a green cone, and with ‘Orange Fudge’ the petals start out orange but end with yellow tips. The flowers are daisy-like and can be single, semi-double and fully-double.

There is a Rudbeckia for all size of garden from the tiny Rudbeckia hirta ‘Toto’ or ‘Tiger Eye’ for the front of border or pot on an apartment balcony, to the tall and lofty Rudbeckia nitida which will almost reach the eaves of the garage next door or tower over the back fence.

(Note: In America Rudbeckia is often called ‘Black-eyed Susan’ but in NZ we have given this common name to a vine, Thunbergia alata, nothing like Rudbeckia.)

All three make great cut flowers and even the seed heads are useful in arrangements. Keep them protected with slug and snail bait or go outdoors at night with a torch and bucket and catch the slugs in action. Plants may require deadheading – or removal of spent flowers – to improve general appearance and encourage repeat flowering.

Try Kings Seeds and Wildflower World for seeds; Living Fashion and Parva Plants for the plants – or your local garden centre.

Echinacea and friends- by Jane Carver

Rudbeckia ‘Cappuccino’

Echinacea with Coreopsis

Echinacea ‘Tomato Soup’

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ with Yellow Admiral

Photos Jane Carver

Rudbeckia ‘Tiger Eye’ with Yellow Admiral

Yellow Admiral on Gaillardia

greAT wHiTe BUTTerFlY HUnTThe hunt for the ‘Great White Butterfly’ (Pieris brassicae) in the Nelson region continues with Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust members helping other concerned citizens in the search. Each weekend volunteers are out clearing wild nasturtium from anywhere in the area, as this is frequently a host plant.

A peak of GWB activity is expected from late March through to the end of May as evidence suggests the bulk of the population produced over spring and early summer will have entered a pupal aestivation (animal dormancy, similar to hibernation) over summer and will begin emergence then.

This photograph is a close up of just one cluster GWB eggs totalling 198 eggs! You can imagine the damage they would cause to your brassica crop. Photo courtesy of Entecol.

Have a look at the March-April NZ Geographic magazine with its excellent article on the GWB eradicatioin project. And if you see any GWB (or larger than usual White butterflies), please phone 0800 80 99 66 urgently.

We will post updates from the GWB task force on our website as well.

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The folk behind the Apollo Park (Palmerston North) butterfly garden believed that had had a great start to 2013 until...

“The weather is proving to be challenging, new outside furniture at home being blown around the yard and the park is exploding with new growth, always changing,” said Paul. However, they have had two attacks by vandals, causing damage and stealing plants, which is certainly not the morale boost they needed.

Terry and Paul, the two hardest working volunteers, have added more plants, some new additions and a few replacements, all in keeping with butterfly and insect-friendly. The local media has been hugely encouraging, saying Apollo Butterfly Park is a ‘must visit’.

“It’s fantastic to get so much coverage,” said Paul, “so we must keep the momentum going with new plantings and maintenance. Quite often Terry will ring me and within ten minutes we are at the park fluffing around with something.”

Milson and Cloverly Guides, Brownies and Pippins started their year 2013 in Apollo Butterfly Park and the theme was Butterflies.

“It was great seeing so many smiling faces and I got to talk to them about the park and hopefully this is where it starts, future Forest & Bird members, conservationists, or just nature lovers start in the Apollo Butterfly Park. Awapuni Nurseries supplied about 1,000 seedlings and the girls planted about 800 in the park, fantastic effort from them. Also, Flutterby Monarchs donated 20 live Monarch butterflies and the girls got to hold them and set them free in the park.”

Sadly the park then was hit by vandals with graffiti on the fences and plants pulled up. Thanks to the continued commitment of Terry (Manawatu Native Plants) and Paul Vandenberg, much of the damage has already been repaired and plants replaced.

The park was also visited by Wakaronga & Milson W.I. Garden Circle who listened to Paul explain its inception and future plans. The group is planning an Open day in March – new border, continue with seeding, park signage, mass butterfly release, solar-powered street lamps.

Keep up to their activities by linking to their Facebook page.`

https://www.facebook.com/MonarchsApolloPark

Apollo Park Butterflies

Photo: Sally Phillips9

When I began rearing Monarch butterflies in central Auckland’s Grey Lynn back in the late 1940s (my parents had the foresight to have a swan plant waiting for me) the first butterflies to lay their eggs would arrive in December and depart in April the following year. As the caterpillars had none, or very few, predators swan plants would soon be stripped and one would have to use moth plants - if they were of a reasonably large size - as substitutes.

When I compare this to today, once again in central Auckland’s Mt Eden, I seem to have the odd butterfly laying eggs throughout winter and caterpillars also surviving into August which produce a few chrysalises that result in crippled butterflies. A major difference however is the number of predators that the Monarch now has to contend with, several types of wasps and the large non-native praying mantis etc. On Waiheke Island I have seen hundreds of caterpillars leave a friend’s swan plants stripped leafless and we had to move the caterpillars to moth plant. Today the large number of wasps on the island plus the odd Shining Cuckoo mean that Monarch eggs and small caterpillars have to be reared indoors.

There are a few exceptions... in April-May 2012 we found a large number of swan plants at the back of the shops in Oneroa that were completely stripped; dozens of empty chrysalises and some still to hatch. We also discovered two swan plants in the garden of the Presbyterian Church in Oneroa (they look after their swan plants) with a number of hatching chrysalises on the day we visited, but with stripped plants. A few years ago when we first found these plants we removed starving caterpillars... perhaps someone from above is protecting them!

I was also lucky enough to have a visit several years ago of a female Lesser Wanderer. While working in the glasshouse one morning I noticed what at first appeared to be a smaller Monarch laying eggs. I soon discovered it was a Lesser Wanderer in pristine condition. The Auckland War Memorial Museum entomologist said it would have got caught up in the trade wind currents and obtained a free trip to Auckland. As this was mid-January and wasps were at their worst, I collected as many eggs and small caterpillars as I could and successfully reared them inside, to be amazed at the small pink, and some green, chrysalises that soon appeared. Butterflies emerged and were let go in the backyard. While several remained in the garden, as far as I am aware none mated, so that was the end of this special episode.

AdmiralsMore recently I have taken up the challenge!!! I began rearing Admiral caterpillars.

25 years ago I was given some stinging nettle by a friend who was setting up the Kelmarna Organic Gardens in Herne Bay where he discovered a number of stinging nettle plants. In due course Red and Yellow Admirals appeared. While my nettles grew, no caterpillars resulted and after three years of stings I decided to remove them. My mistake at the time was that I should have obtained some caterpillars but when one’s in fulltime work, time is limited.

One and a half years ago a young lady had an article in one of Waiheke Island’s newspapers asking if anyone was interested in obtaining some Yellow Admiral caterpillars. While I had no nettle planted at the time I did make contact and in due course some Admirals were obtained. Very quickly nettle was arranged and planted in the garden and potted. A number of chrysalises were hatched in castles, as I soon learned that the predators go after Admirals just as much as Monarchs, but one had to include an additional predator: spiders. In the first season no butterflies came back to lay eggs on the nettles. This changed in the more recent season when some did return and laid eggs. Once again, the caterpillars were reared in castles but I was soon to learn that rearing Admirals was more difficult than rearing Monarchs. I did have some losses when on one occasion I had to change the food and I assumed that this was enough to result in the deaths of nearly fully-grown caterpillars. On another occasion I may have had some spray drift when spraying my roses.

My supply of caterpillars continued right through this autumn and winter. It became obvious that one can rear and hatch them throughout the year if you have enough food. My late-season caterpillars hatched into beautiful butterflies and was to include, much to my surprise, a couple of stunning Red Admirals. While some of my caterpillars would have come from Kelmarna Gardens staff they had not seen Reds for at least eight years. And now, in mid-August I still have a chrysalis inside and some baby caterpillars outside.

My hobby continues.

Over the Years

Written by Alan Baldick

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New Zealand Monarch butterflies are helping to educate people with learning disabilities in Kent, England.

Each year, when the Monarchs return to Auckland and lay copious amounts of eggs, member Mike Fox packages some up and sends them to Bernie Farrell in Britain. Bernie raises the Monarchs – sometimes using moth vine, Araujia sericifera, a pest plant in NZ and then takes some of the butterflies off to the Canterbury Oast Trust.

The Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) is a charity supporting people with learning disabilities in Kent and East Sussex.

“We create opportunities for those who would not be able to look after themselves outside a safe and supportive environment,” says Anne Cragg, who runs the Butterfly Section. “Their quality of life is enhanced by involvement in a real choice of programmes, many of which are in our own self help ventures. “

One of COT’s commercial operations is the Rare Breeds Centre in Ashford, half an hour from Dover. Here they farm a wide range of rare and endangered animals, and trainees participate in the day-to-day running of the farm.

Anne has several helpers who are becoming quite knowledgeable about the butterflies.

“We are so grateful to Bernie – he has sent us NZ Monarchs for the last five years, and the butterflies are greatly appreciated as they are larger and more docile than the typical wild butterfly – so easy for people to observe and handle. The breeding cycle is quick which means I have an interesting display for visiting public when i can show them all stages of the life cycle.”

“I did send her the white form when I bred it,” Bernie told us. “You can see the white form and a typical Monarch in Don Wilks’ photograph. She hasn’t been able to get Monarchs from any other source.”

Catherine Henwood handles a Monarch and doesn’t she enjoy it!

Monarchs in the UK

Because Britain is so close to many other countries there are few restrictions about importing other species – so long as the resultant adults are not released. Monarchs and Vanessa atalanta often arrive in Britain under their own steam, as no doubt many other insects do, generally unnoticed.

Bernie enjoys breeding different species and has also been sending them up to a safari park near Liverpool plus he often shares them with other like-minded people.

The Monarchs are very much enjoyed.

Bernie has been a very good friend to the MBNZT, so it’s a win:win situation all round.

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People are really impressed with our beautiful bannerstands. In response to requests we now have high quality posters available with the same information as on the bannerstands.

PostersPrices are: A4 $4.50 each includes P&P, A3 $6.00 each plus $6 P&P (rolled in a tube). Set of all four, A4 $13.50, P&P included and A3 $18.00 plus $6.00 postage.1. New Zealand Butterflies and Day-flying Moths

Beautiful, colourful illustrations to help you identify 19 different species.

2. Monarch metamorphosis poster Great for understanding butterfly metamorphosis. Full colour photographs show a Monarch egg, the various stages of the caterpillar, it hanging as a J before it becomes a pupa or chrysalis, and then illustrates the emergence of the butterfly. It also shows the difference between a male and a female Monarch.

3. Milkweed for Monarchs poster Identifying the different species of milkweed (Asclepias and Gomphocarpus species) available in New Zealand as host plants for the Monarch butterfly

4. Nectar Plants Showing 20 garden plants which provide nectar for butterflies and moths.

Our Shop

BOOk Review: ABOve the tReelineThis is a beautiful book covering the flora and fauna of our high coun-try. The book identifies over 850 species – more than 400 pages with over a thousand colour photographs.Sir Alan Mark is a botanist, ecologist and environmental campaigner having been a key figure in the Manapouri protests which saved much native forest in that area. Sir Alan says that here in NZ we have a greater range of alpine vegetation than in many other countries of the world. This habitat fosters at least 40% of our insect life.

“The extremes in temperature, the shorter summers, the high rates of erosion all help make our alpine environment challenging – not only for humans exploring it, but also for the plants and animals inhabiting it,” says the author. “They’ve evolved and adapted to it in interesting ways.”

For such a book the butterfly and moth section is clearly and scientifically described with sharp photographs of the subjects. It’s an interesting book giving an in depth description of all aspects of the alpine environment, supported with lots of good quality photographs, which complement the text. Definitely one to have in the library.

Published by: Craig Potton Publishing Flexibind: 210 x 148 mm, 240 pages, Colour ISBN: 978 1 877517 76 1, RRP: $49.99

Butterfly Gardening CourseWant to make sure NZ’s native butterflies are catered for in your garden? Join up on the next Butterfly Habitat course!Five presentations on creating a butterfly garden/habitat are on line over a period of a month. At the end of each week a test is completed, and the five tests are sent in by mail at the end of the course. Discussion takes place in the forum on our website. Those who complete the five tests successfully receive a certificate.Week One - typical metamorphosis (life cycle); identifying different parts of a caterpillar and butterfly; species which can be encouraged in a NZ garden/habitatWeek Two - garden design to encourage butterflies and moths; making best use of the space you have availableWeek Three - host plantsWeek Four - nectar plantsWeek Five – challenges - pests, predators, diseases

The cost is only NZ $50 for financial members or NZ $35 for non-members (but this includes an email membership). While the course is designed for a New Zealand audience, it will still be good value if you live outside the country. Payment can be made by Paypal, US$30, enrolments by email to treasurer@monarch.org.nzWe need to know your name, address (for mail) and your email address. Pay by internet banking into our account with Kiwibank, account number 38-9009-0654693-00. Please ensure you code your payment with your surname and send an email to us (treasurer@monarch.org.nz) with details of your name, address, how payment was made etc, or you can send your details and a cheque to MBNZT, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246We encourage anyone participating in the course to discuss what they are learning in the forum on our website. This course would make an ideal gift for someone just getting interested in gardening.