Great lesser wanderer wonder!

Great lesser wanderer wonder!

Have you noticed any unusual caterpillars on your swan plant this season? Many people have found what looks like a monarch caterpillar but it has a ‘a third set of antennae’.

These are actually larvae of the lesser wanderer butterfly, Danaus petilia (formerly Danaus chrysippus petilia). Most years, lesser wanderer butterflies (and others) are brought to New Zealand in late summer with tropical cyclones. The butterflies are slightly smaller than a monarch and the colour is tan and black and white, while a freshly emerged monarch is orange.

However, this year, it is suspected that some butterflies may have overwintered here from last summer and bred. The butterflies that have been seen appear fresh and new, obviously recently emerged.

“This is exciting,” said Norm Twigge, former Chair of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, “as we don’t have many butterflies in New Zealand and the lesser wanderer will certainly not affect our native species – just add a bit more colour to our gardens. I discovered one myself on my own swan plants.”

Lesser wanderer butterflies and caterpillars have been reported around Auckland, in Whakatane and further afield. One Lower Hutt woman found eleven of the unusual caterpillars on her swan plant.

“Previously our weather has been too cold for these tropical butterflies to breed here but with climate change it might herald more changes to our insect life,” said entomologist Brian Patrick. Let’s hope that none are a threat to our gardens and primary industries.”

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