Where are the Monarch butterflies?

“Where are the Monarchs? That’s a question I’m hearing more and more every day these past few months,” said Jacqui Knight from the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. “It seems that many gardens in New Zealand have not yet been visited by those spectacular orange and black insects this spring.”

The cause could be several things. Many people are putting it down to the huge increase in social wasps last summer which decimated the Monarch population. Less Monarchs overwintering, less to return to gardens in the spring.

Another factor is the very unsettled spring weather. In some gardens a few female Monarchs found a few warm days to lay eggs on swan plants but few of the caterpillars survived the snow, frosts, wind and wet which followed.

“It’s quite surprising,” said Rebecca Bibby, Chair of the MBNZT. “We have had reports of ‘too many caterpillars’ in places like Hamilton, which is not usually known for its tropical weather, and another report of an early Monarch seen on swan plants in Southland. But in Northland, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty there are few butterflies about.”

The MBNZT is urging everyone to look out for social wasps in gardens and to ensure that nests are found and removed before wasp numbers build up. These wasps are a problem for humans, our livelihoods and our native flora and fauna as well.

“If wasps are affecting our Monarchs, then our native butterfly population and other invertebrates will be affected,” said Rebecca.

New Zealand’s lepidoptera displays the world’s highest rate of endemism with the majority of species (92%) found nowhere else.

“There are many organisations working to protect kiwi, kokako and even giant snails, but NZ has very few species of Lepidoptera and they are becoming less known each year.”

Lepidopterist Brian Patrick gives an example of a tiny purple copper butterfly which exists only in one coastal car-park in the South Island.

“It’s teetering on the edge of survival,” he said. “The plight of our butterfly fauna is heavily dependent on human action if they are to survive and thrive. There are many moths and butterflies that are threatened with extinction even before they are described.”

The MBNZT urges people to eliminate wasp nests and grow swan plants now so that when the Monarchs do visit gardens, there are plenty of host plants on which to lay eggs.

“This will be a huge help to Monarchs,” said Rebecca. “And it’s a great activity for children, opening their eyes to the world of biodiversity right in their own backyard.”

ENDS

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