http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ Monarch Trust NZ Forum: Recent Topics en Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:31:37 +0000 http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/monarch-papamoatauranga-people#post-9284 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:43:59 +0000 Myrlene 9284@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi, I live in Papamoa and just wondering how many people help the Monarchs in my area. Many be it would be handy to know a few just in case I run out of Caterpillar trees or and have some caterpillars to share. Love to hear from you. Cheers Myrlene </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/tagging-butterflies-and-answer-to-problems#post-9292 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:10:31 +0000 tramp 9292@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi to anyone in the Tauranga area </p> <p>Jacqui, &#39;Madam Butterfly&#39; will be in Tauranga and we are having a meeting on Thursday 18th at 7 pm. at the Tauranga Art Centre, Elizabeth St West 169, next to the YHA.</p> <p>Also at Te Puna Quarry Park 11 am -3 pm on Sundaym 21 March. Jacqui and members there to help you with butterflies.</p> <p>Ph. me on 07 576 4752 for more infotmation.</p> <p>Mary </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/flying#post-9255 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:21:41 +0000 GillianCampbell 9255@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>yesterday 3 butterflies hatched and they didn&#39;t fly so i don&#39;t know if i should feed them or not </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/3000-swan-plants-in-hamilton#post-9303 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:55:58 +0000 Branson 9303@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Available for fund raising for schools etc - 1m to 1.5m tall mostly single leaders but many branchy in PB5 planter bags - $2 ea &amp; sell for $5 ea - just take orders via newsletters/email lists &amp; only come/pay with definite orders so not at risk - I don&#39;t care where they go to - I&#39;ve just started calling Hamilton schools &amp; should have done it earlier but with moving 2 garden centres into 1 thru Feb never got on to it till now....... If my memory from last yrs trial is correct 1 family in 20 will order &amp; if done every summer many shud become regular orderers yr on yr with money getting better n better... Hundreds possibly thousands of healthy munching pillars here at present if anyone wants to collect/disperse them - I have had a big wild thicket of seedlings but there r so many now they&#39;re going to eat it right down within a week or two - I&#39;ve been picking them off the sale plants which does concentrate them of course..... So we&#39;ve moved out of 310 Kahikatea Drive extension with everything now in the ex Greens/Fresca garden centre at 78 Alison St 07 8395446 (opp Gallaghers big black building on the western bypass thru Hamilton) &amp; still called The Plant Place even though the Fresca sign still out front... Incidently one of my customers recently caught a Warehouse worker washing their unwanted pillars down a drainhole - horrified she saved a few - good look eh......? </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/dying-caterpillars#post-9296 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:57:19 +0000 JoWakefield 9296@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I live in Timaru and the Monarch butterflies were late Laying eggs (Feb).Only 1 caterpillar has pupated. The others, large and small, at various stages of growth, have this week begun to die. The food supply is plentiful.I am thinking that the cooler nights may be a factor. I have not seen wasps or praying mantis. My daughter has had the same problem, although her hatchings were 2 weeks ahead of mine. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/breeding-red-admirals#post-8899 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:02:26 +0000 djherdi 8899@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi, all. I have finally got Red Admiral butterflies which I&#39;d love to breed and release. I have two issues. First is what is the general consensus on say releasing Red Admirals in Auckland, when the population was initally sourced in Taumarunui? Second is I have had the imagos now for some two weeks, but no sign of eggs. I have mimicked a forest margin environment, and provided Bush nettle, annual nettles, lots of flowers, and have had signs of mating.... but no eggs. Maby I am two anxious for the reds to oviposit? The Reds have had only two weeks inside a shadehouse of 6sq m surface area and 2m high, and some are already badly battered. As soon as I have Jacquis&#39; DVD on pairing I&#39;ll be attempting to hand pair them.</p> <p>My Yellow Admiral population I have sucesfully bred inside tha same dimension shadehouse as the reds. So I assume the Red Admirals should be OK despite being larger than the yellows</p> <p>Cheers, Rob </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/deformed-butterfly#post-9273 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:54:10 +0000 NicHoward 9273@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi there, I have a butterfly that has hatched this morning, extremely deformed. I have taken pics, where can I upload these for viewing?<br /> I&#39;ve researched a little and wondered if I might have OE spore :(<br /> I&#39;d love some help.<br /> Thanks<br /> Nic </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/does-anyone-need-caterpillars-in-chch#post-9264 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:59:30 +0000 EmmaAlldridge 9264@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I have plenty of medium sized caterpillars ... does anyone need any?</p> <p>I&#39;m in Burwood... </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/logging-in-to-record-tagging#post-2094 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:37:47 +0000 haluca 2094@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Can anyone help me here? I've had all of one butterfly to tag but wasnt able to log in at the time and havnt had the time to do so since, it was saying I didnt have access to that area? </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/feeding-new-butterflies#post-9261 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:53:14 +0000 GillianCampbell 9261@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi, my 12 year old and I are new to this butterfly game and we have a question. We had 6 butterflies hatch over the last 3 days, but as the weather is raining and coldish here and will be for the week, we are worried they will starve as they dont seem in a hurry to leave. We gave them watered down honey which they drank, but one got stuck into a blob of straight honey and then sat there like it was in a diabetic coma for a few hours, while the others wandered around! Is honey ok for them to eat? We have no flowers in our garden but will be planting a butterfly flower garden over the next few weeks so we are ready for next season. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/new-zealand-butterflies#post-9268 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:21:36 +0000 NormTwigge 9268@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>The latest N.Z. Listener contains an article on N.Z. butterflies, their habitats and their standing at this stage in time. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/whats-eating-my-flowers#post-1470 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:07:00 +0000 wings1 1470@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Greetings all, does anyone know what eats milk weed flowers? I have a green caterpillar that is just destroying all my flower seeds and I am not sure what it is or how to prevent it. Any ideas? </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/tagging-demonstration-at-west-lynn-gardens#post-9259 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:13:03 +0000 flutterbys 9259@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>HI Everyone,</p> <p>I will be at West Lynn Garden in New Lynn on Sunday 14th March for Childrens Day.<br /> I am going to be giving a tagging demonstration from 1pm - 1.30pm.</p> <p>I suggest people keep any Monarchs that emerge from the previous two days in a cool, dark place and bring them along in a chilly bin (to keep them cool) with their tags also. We can tag them there, and then the people can take them home again to release.<br /> Link below to West Lynn Garden.<br /> <a href="http://www.westlynngarden.org.nz/" rel="nofollow">http://www.westlynngarden.org.nz/</a></p> <p>I also need a few helpers if anyone can help me out at all?</p> <p>If you&#39;re interested you can email on <a href="mailto:charlotte@monarch.org.nz">charlotte@monarch.org.nz</a></p> <p>Hope to see a few of you there on Sunday.</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Charlotte </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/how-far-south-do-admirals-go#post-9186 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:26:24 +0000 Stefan Olson 9186@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I have a friend who lives in Invercargill and like me (until recently) has never seen an admiral butterfly. Do they live as far south as Invercargill?</p> <p>...Stefan </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/surplus-plants#post-9251 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:31:17 +0000 MaryDowie 9251@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Due to a rather good strike of seed, an inability to cull any plants, and the fact I have already given plants to everyone who even looks in my direction, I have quite a quantity of plants that need repotting. They have had light grazing and regrowth is shooting well. They should winter over well, but there is a limit to the space I have available. We are in the Tasman Area. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/strange-looking-caterpillars#post-9162 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:13:52 +0000 WayneACourt 9162@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>We Have about 6 strange caterpillars among our normal caterpillars,They are dark brown with slight yellow lines,they are chubby looking &amp; almost slightly furry,also appear too grow larger,have found 2 dead ones,one seemed too have a back bone,something had eaten most of it.I have some photos but as yet don&#39;t know how too upload them here.<br /> One has gone up into my trellising hopefully too make its silk,but we wondered if they would know what too do or wonder off &amp; die,only 2 there today,don&#39;t know where the others went,<br /> We thought the Admirals may have bred with a Monarch as they are always around our budleigh Bush together.<br /> Any Ideas??? We love too hear from anyone,so as we know what 2 expect.<br /> Regards;WayneACourt<br /> Christchurch </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/chrysalis-fallen-on-ground#post-9245 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:08:54 +0000 NathanBartlett 9245@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>We have about 8-9 Chrysalis that have fallen onto the ground - how do we stick them back on? As I guess they won&#39;t hatch down there? </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/ramblings-on-terrible-season-for-monarchs#post-8982 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:35:40 +0000 pst 8982@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Has anyone else noticed the lack of butterflies this season? And as a concequence eggs and caterpillars? Usually by now I would have had over 600 chrysalises around the garden and in The Box, (an old Lizard cage I put large, ready to pupate caterpillars in and fed on pumpkin) Helps the plants recover and the butterflies are easier to tag!<br /> I have about 40 chrysalises out side on various plants, under gutterings, with about half on a mini standard rose, their site of choice. With only 17 caterpillars in The Box at this time of year when last year at the same time there were over 200 chrysalises. The season seems to have had a very slow start in Taranaki. Is this just my area or have others noticed ? Also my swan plants, self seeded did not germinate until late, actually not until I weeded and dug over the ground were the old plants had succumbed to a late frost. I then had a carpet of plants. I did have 10 stunted seedling plants that wintered over , these from seed carefully planted not self seeded. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/great-photo-of-monarch-egglaying#post-9239 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:26:20 +0000 jacqui 9239@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>... or ovipositing.</p> <p>Thanks Keith Moore.</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/03/04/monach-egglaying/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/03/04/monach-egglaying/</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/now-have-my-butterfly-house#post-8783 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:09:17 +0000 ReneeFraser 8783@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Thanks so much Charlotte for the idea of using a Gazebo. I bought one and bought 11 small potted swan plants and I already had one potted here. So I have 12 inside the Gazebo. Now I just need my caterpillars to get really big so I can transfer them onto the plants in the butterfly house. I&#39;m so excited! :D </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/observations-when-netting-wild-flutterbys#post-9228 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:36:23 +0000 Pete Wood 9228@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>when netting these wonderful creatures while wearing brightly cloured clothing, the monarchs appear to be extremely wary and harder to net.<br /> They are very territorial and will chase ANYTHING that moves in their near vicinity including birds...awsome to watch a monarch chase a minor bird and escort it away from the plants.<br /> It is amazing how quick and manouverable the monarch is.. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/praying-mantids-wanted#post-9116 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:57:50 +0000 jacqui 9116@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>This request from Murray Fea:</p> <p>I am a student at the University of Auckland soon to commence my MSc thesis work on the New Zealand praying mantis Orthodera novaezealandiae and the exotic springbok praying mantis Miomantis caffra. I require live specimens of both species and if you happen to have either at hand I would greatly appreciate it if you could collect them. They can be sent to:</p> <p>Murray Fea<br /> C/O Margaret Stanley<br /> School of Biological Sciences<br /> Tamaki Campus, Building 733.330<br /> The University of Auckland<br /> Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre,<br /> Auckland 1142</p> <p>Alternatively, I can pick them up if within the Auckland region. </p> <p>Praying mantids cope well in the post, and can be collected and posted in small individual plastic jars, or something similar.</p> <p>Please do not put more than one in a container (they will eat one another) or put other things in the container with them (they can easily get squashed). All sizes and ages are required, so any mantids of both species will be appreciated.</p> <p>Thank you very much<br /> Murray Fea </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/hamilton-taggers#post-9233 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:07:57 +0000 Pete Wood 9233@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I am in flagstaff, are you in hamilton if so which area...?<br /> This the second summer I have been tagging, and have not as yet either had a tag recovered or found a tagged monarch from another site. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/the-caterpillar-onslaught-begins-d#post-8902 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:05:28 +0000 happyjohnny 8902@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>It looks like the &#39;onslaught&#39; (as I called it in a previous post) has begun, yay! ...<br /> For the first time since late-November I have an abundance of caterpillars on my un-sheltered plants and will have plenty to spare over this next month. It sounds like others do too.</p> <p>If anyone / anywhere doesn&#39;t have a current Monarch population, let me know... I&#39;d be happy to take / send some caterpillars to help start the onslaught there. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/autumn-newsletter#post-9223 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:08:41 +0000 bevs 9223@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I received my Autumn Newsletter recently and I am wondering what other people think of the contents?</p> <p>I am thrilled the calendar is being planned again for next year. Many of my friends will be receiving them as gifts from me. What a great way of raising funds to help in our work.<br /> The information about the Cinnabar moth was interesting and also the swan plant seed bug. I do not have them in my garden but will be on the lookout for them. </p> <p>It was fascinating reading about the changes that have taken place in Charlotte&#39;s and Vicky&#39;s gardens since they became involved with the MBNZT. I can now use the correct name for some of my buddleias, instead of referring to them by their colour.</p> <p>Jane&#39;s tips on collecting and storing seeds will be cost-saving for next year&#39;s garden. It was great to read about Mike Fox&#39;s trip to Mexico and the Monarch butterflies&#39; over-wintering site.That must be amazing to see. Also to read about Brian Patrick and colleagues&#39; project to save the Samoan Swallowtail butterfly.</p> <p>I have been tagging Monarchs and am enjoying this process. Two of my releases have been recovered some kms away.So much planning goes into this project and I am sure we will begin to see great results soon.</p> <p>I am looking forward to the Annual General Meeting and especially the workshops that have been arranged before and after the meeting Did you realise they are free! We will be selling some MBNZT goods on the day to help meet the cost of the hire of the room. Hope to meet some of you there. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/why-are-some-caterpillars-unable-to-form-chrysalis-amp-die#post-9179 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:53:49 +0000 Ruthie 9179@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi everyone<br /> Last weekend a medium-sized Monarch caterpillar went into the position to form a chrysalis, but by the next day had failed to do and was starting to stretch out again; by the next day it was clear that it had died in the attempt so I removed it. I saw a similar-sized one in my sister&#39;s garden that had the same problem, whereas some caterpillars almost double the size are still gorging themselves. How do they know when they&#39;ve reached the optimum size to form a chrysalis, and why do you think some of them misjudge it?<br /> Look forward to your thoughts on the subject.<br /> Ruthie </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/free-caterpillars-hamilton#post-9104 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:11:58 +0000 lindahawkins 9104@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I have plenty of caterillars, some ready to pupae if anyone wants them they can collect them from Glenview Hamilton phone 8439708 after 3pm thursday </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/unusual-insect#post-9211 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:49:18 +0000 jacqui 9211@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi all</p> <p>Wonder if someone can identify this for me... </p> <p>I was riding a horse through a pine forest and was looking into the evening sun which was filtering through the trees. As I rode these little insects flew up in front of me, some had what looked like long legs dangling down from them... I wondered if they were moths but not sure. They looked like very frail &quot;bows&quot; with their legs dangling. They would probably have been about 2-3cm from wingtip to wingtip and they sort of hovered above and in front of me.</p> <p>With their long &quot;legs&quot; dangling they probably would have been 3-4cm from top to bottom.</p> <p>Any ideas?</p> <p>Without the aid of the light they were nearly impossible to see, but with the light behind them they sort of glowed!</p> <p>Jacqui </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/removing-obsolete-tags-from-your-profile039s-drop-down-menu#post-9207 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:19:32 +0000 jacqui 9207@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I&#39;m sure I sent out an instruction about this earlier, but here&#39;s how it&#39;s done. You have to remove the old tags by &quot;using&quot; them, i.e. put in the weight box &quot;Tag not used&quot; and click on Submit.</p> <p>Hint: If you hold down the Ctrl key and tap the dash key three times - next to the zero - the size of the font on that page will reduce three sizes, bringing up the Submit button into the one screen so you won&#39;t have to use your scroll bar each time.</p> <p>Once you have entered &quot;tag not used&quot; in the weight box the first time, it should only require you to tap the &#39;t&#39; the next and subsequent times, and therefore it will be comparativelhy quick to &quot;use up&quot; all of last year&#39;s tags.</p> <p>Then use the Ctrl plus + key to bring the print up to full size again.</p> <p>Cheers</p> <p>Jacqui </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/shield-bug-eating-monarch-caterpillar#post-9213 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:17:07 +0000 PaulineBailey 9213@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I have just taken photographs of a shield bug - Cermatulus nasalis – soldier bug or shield beetle - eating a caterpillar.<br /> we walked up the path - our caterpillar was happily munching. walked back and he was hanging over the stalk with this bug with his probiscus in his neck.<br /> can I post the photographs on here? would anyone like copies?<br /> I have just found this site, so new on here. </p>