Recent Zealanders traditionally show their love for their significant other on Valentine’s Day. What better time to reveal which insect they love the most?
Second Annual Mistake of the Year The contest was won by the red admiral. He received a total of 2,275 votes out of almost 17,000 votes cast by Recent Zealanders at home and abroad.
One of our most magnificent butterflies, the red admiral, inherited the crown from last year’s inaugural winner, the native bee, the ngaro huruhuru (common violet).
While the butterfly defeated other insects, Huge veto on Mount ArturThey were closely followed by ngāokeoke (velvet worm) and titiwai (firefly), each receiving several thousand votes.
This Entomological Society of New Zealand launched a competition to shine a airy on the underrepresented and stunningly unique insects of Aotearoa Recent Zealand. As interest grows, we hope more people will be inspired to create and maintain habitats for these often threatened species.
Aotearoa is home to more than 20,000 different species of insects – more correctly known as terrestrial invertebrates. These range from brightly coloured butterflies and iconic wētā to stealthy velvet worms and carnivorous land snails. And these are just the species described so far.
There are ten times more insect species in Recent Zealand than native plants and over a hundred times more than native birds. Yet most people know little about them.
Moths and butterflies are not that different
The red admiral is easily recognized by its dazzling red and black wings. Its Maori name, kahukura, translates directly as “red cloak or robe” but may also refer to the atua (deity) represented by the upper arc of a double rainbow.
The closely related kahukōwhai, or yellow admiral, has similar coloration, except that the undersides of its upper wings are creamy yellow. Red admirals are endemic – found only in Recent Zealand – while yellow admirals also occur in Australia.
Read more: Discovering the mysterious world of butterflies: from age-old pollinators to whistling wonders
Aotearoa has over 2,000 species of butterflies – butterflies and moths – and about 90% of them are endemic. You might be surprised to learn that there are no clear differences between what are commonly called butterflies and what are commonly called moths.
Only 17 species of butterflies are popularly called butterflies. However, many of the remaining 98% – the so-called moths – are dynamic during the day and can also be beautifully patterned and colorful.
Because they feed on flower nectar and transfer pollen in the process, moths and butterflies are crucial pollinators. They are also the base of the food chain, making up a huge part of the native diet of birds.
Gardens as butterfly habitats
Like many butterflies around the world, red admirals are less common than they used to be. While latest gardening tips While bee-friendly plantings have begun to be considered, it is crucial to think about other invertebrates, such as butterflies, when planning and maintaining our yards.
In general, the variety of basic flowers prosperous in nectar is positively associated with pollinator health. And resilient and diverse pollinator populations benefit both natural and constructed ecosystems, such as gardens. In turn, they support biodiversity and overall environmental health – which benefits human well-being.
Read more: How butterflies conquered the world: fresh ‘family tree’ charts their 100-million-mile journey around the globe
The Moths and Butterflies of Recent Zealand Trust runs online course on how to assess, create and maintain butterfly habitats.
Butterflies differ from other invertebrates in that females prefer (or exclusively) to lay eggs on specific host plants. If the preferred host plants are not available, caterpillar survival may be low.
So, while it is crucial to provide adult insects with a variety of flowering plants to feed on, it is equally crucial to provide caterpillars with host plants on which to develop.
It is known that the caterpillars of the monarch butterfly must feed on milkweed (swan plant). Similarly, Muehlenbeckia species such as the creeping pohuehue and the bushy tororaro are crucial host plants for many native butterflies, as well as many native moths.
The lack of a suitable host may be one reason why the red admiral is becoming increasingly uncommon. Latest research It has been shown that females prefer to lay eggs on native nettles, and larvae reared on native nettles give better results than those reared on introduced nettles.
Experiments show that ongaonga tree nettle (Common nettle) is the ideal host for the red admiral caterpillars. However, ongaonga is often removed because of its extremely painful, stinging hairs.
Pollinator Protection
In addition to planting for butterflies and moths, there are many other things you can do in your garden to make it a suitable place for pollinator populations to thrive.
Some The biggest threats Threats to insect populations in Aotearoa and globally come from urbanisation, deforestation and agricultural intensification: loss of habitat and food sources, and the exploit of pesticides.
Read more: Next time you see a butterfly, cherish the memory: Scientists sound the alarm about these 26 species
Introduced predators also threaten our unique insects. Invasive vespula wasps and rodents are a threat to native butterflies and moths. But predator control systems such as backyard trapping can make a difference.
Future articles will offer seasonal gardening and lifestyle tips to assist insects in your garden. These will include the best times to spot native and introduced insects and other ways to promote invertebrate conservation and biodiversity.
Whether you’re an insect lover or still not convinced, it’s crucial that we all assist Aotearoa’s invertebrate populations survive and thrive.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance Butterflies and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust in the preparation of this article.