http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ Monarch Trust NZ Forum » Recent Topics en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:40:54 +0000 http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/book-wanted#post-11321 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:22:12 +0000 ArchieSimpson 11321@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I am looking for an out of print book by Brian Parkinson, Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. If anyone has a spare copy I would like to purchase it obviously I will pay postage and packaging costs as well.<br /> I am looking forward to visiting your beautiful country in the New Year and have found Bird books quite easy to find but Butterflies rather difficult!<br /> Hope someone can help.<br /> Regards Archie </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/bjtterfly-meeting#post-11099 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:20:47 +0000 tramp 11099@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Butterfly Questions and Answers</p> <p>Meeting at Te Puna Quarry Park Pavilion 1 pm Saturday 31 July. Examples of Butterfly Houses Castles and Towers ideal for Home and Schools Free swanplant seed.</p> <p>For more information phone Mary on 07 576 4752 or Char on 09 832 7547. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/verbena-bonariensis-seeds-wanted#post-11286 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:52:58 +0000 KateWhitley 11286@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I've been trying in vain to source this plant from garden centres in NZ and was hoping a member might have some plants in their garden that they could either harvest seeds from (at the end of summer) or share a plant with me.<br /> Thanks,<br /> Kate </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/monarch-caterpillar#post-11307 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:25:13 +0000 jacqui 11307@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Some interesting discussion going on here:</p> <p><a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/89924/bgimage" rel="nofollow">http://bugguide.net/node/view/89924/bgimage</a></p> <p>I think it's a Monarch and the "orange" thing is a bit of frass - what's your opinion? </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/admirals-3#post-11293 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:43:29 +0000 ReganRussell 11293@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> Im interested in starting a little red admiral colony at our public aquarium. Just wondering how to get a hold of some caterpillars. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/victoria-park-overwintering#post-11263 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:41:48 +0000 MaryL 11263@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi Liz can you tell me where the Monarchs are hanging out at Victoria Park as I have been there today with my sister and couldn't see any. Are they on one of the tracks or more in the open we spent about 2 hrs there and came away very disappointed I wanted to show them to my sister she has never seen this before.<br /> MaryL </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/britain-survey-to-find-the-most-common-butterfly#post-11295 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:00:57 +0000 jacqui 11295@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>The UK's biggest ever survey to find the most common butterfly in British gardens - and the winner is the small white (what we call the Cabbage butterfly).</p> <p>Almost 30,000 of the creamy white butterflies were spotted across the country in one week between July 24 and August 1 as part of the UK's first ever big butterfly count</p> <p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7967897/The-UKs-biggest-ever-survey-to-find-the-most-common-butterfly-in-British-gardens.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7967897/The-UKs-biggest-ever-survey-to-find-the-most-common-butterfly-in-British-gardens.html</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/nectar-plants-for-butterflies#post-12 Mon, 24 Oct 2005 08:48:17 +0000 jacqui 12@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Denise Gibbs from the Chincoteague Monarch Monitoring Project (find website by doing a search for Monarchs Over Chincoteague) posted us a list of overwintering plants. While some of these plants might not be in NZ, I wonder if any members have any plants they would like to add to the list? Here is their list (from Maryland in the USA):</p> <p>Nectar Plants for Monarch Butterflies<br /> Researched/compiled by Denise Gibbs</p> <p>This is a compilation of plant species on which Monarchs have been observed nectaring by "Monarch Watch-ers", butterfly gardeners, and the author. Contributors to this list reported observations from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Indiana. During their autumn migration, Monarchs were seen nectaring on the species marked with an *. Note that a few non-native species listed are considered invasive and are not recommended as new plantings.</p> <p>Annuals:<br /> Egyptian starclusters* - Pentas lanceolata<br /> Mexican sunflower* - Tithonia rotundifolia<br /> Ageratum - Ageratum houstonianum<br /> Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus &#38; sulphureus<br /> Zinnias - Zinnia angustifolia &#38; elegans<br /> Lantana* - Lantana spp.<br /> Bloodflower* - Asclepias curassavica<br /> Stick-tight - Bidens cernua<br /> Salt-marsh fleabane* - Pluchea purpurascens</p> <p>Biennials:<br /> Red clover - Trifolium pratense<br /> Common winter-cress - Barbarea vulgaris</p> <p>Non-native Perennials &#38; their cultivars:<br /> Pink windflower - Anemone tomentosa<br /> Pink tickseed - Coreopsis rosea<br /> Purple monkshood - Aconitum spp.<br /> Pinks - Dianthus spp.<br /> Showy stonecrop* - Sedum spectabile 'Meteor'<br /> Brazilian vervain* - Verbena bonariensis<br /> Boltonia - Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'</p> <p>Native Perennials:<br /> Purple coneflower - Echinacea purpurea<br /> Seaside goldenrod* - Solidago sempervirens<br /> Grass-leaved goldenrod* - Solidago graminifolia<br /> Canada goldenrod - Solidago canadensis<br /> Early goldenrod - Solidago juncea<br /> Fragrant goldenrod* - Solidago tenuifolia<br /> Stiff goldenrod - Solidago rigida<br /> Large bur-marigold* - Bidens laevis<br /> Maximilian sunflower* - Helianthus maximilianii<br /> Prairie sunflower - Helianthus pauciflorus<br /> Thistle* - Cirsium spp.<br /> New England aster* - Aster novae-angliae<br /> Joe-pye weed - Eupatorium fistulosum, E. maculatum, E. purpureum<br /> Blazing star - Liatris spicata, L. squarrosa, L. pycnostachya, L. aspera, L. punctata<br /> Mistflower* - Eupatorium coelestinum<br /> Butterfly weed - Asclepias tuberosa (NOTE: A prohibited plant in NZ)<br /> Common milkweed - Asclepias syriaca<br /> Swamp milkweed - Asclepias incarnata<br /> Purple milkweed - Asclepias purpurascens<br /> Poke milkweed - Asclepias exaltata<br /> Spreading dogbane - Apocynum androsaemifolium<br /> Climbing hempweed* - Mikania scandens<br /> Horsemint* - Monarda punctata<br /> Wild bergamot - Monarda fistulosa<br /> New York ironweed* - Vernonia novaboracensis<br /> Blanket flower - Gaillardia aristata<br /> Cup plant - Silphium perfoliatum</p> <p>Native woody vines, shrubs, trees:<br /> Marsh elder* - Iva frutescens<br /> Groundsel tree* - Baccharis halimifolia<br /> Button bush - Cephalanthus occidentalis<br /> New Jersey tea - Ceanothus americanus<br /> Sweet pepperbush - Clethra alnifolia<br /> Hercules' club - Aralia spinosa</p> <p>Non-native woody vines, shrubs, trees:<br /> butterfly bush* - Buddleia davidii (banned in NZ)<br /> English ivy* (invasive) - Hedera helix<br /> Russian olive (invasive) - Elaeagnus angustifolia</p> <p>The Top 10 plant species in Maryland for a fall (September-October) nectar garden for monarchs:</p> <p>1. Pentas - A<br /> 2. Lantana - A<br /> 3. Stonecrop - P<br /> 4. Brazilian vervain - P<br /> 5. Goldenrod - P<br /> 6. Tickseed - A<br /> 7. New England aster - P<br /> 8. New York ironweed - P<br /> 9. Butterfly bush (Buddleia) - shrub<br /> 10. Mexican sunflower - A</p> <p>Note: A=annual, P=perennial. Annuals should continue blooming right up until a frost kills them in October. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/help-please#post-11252 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:34:49 +0000 jacqui 11252@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi everyone</p> <p>We've got a permanent PO Box, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1026. Also, we've recently changed our bank - we're now with Kiwibank, account number 38-9009-0654693-00. It's going to be easier banking with them.</p> <p>Now I've been scouring the website tonight to make sure everything's up to date, but if anyone notices reference to Westpac or "C/- NZ Post, Russell", could you please let me know and I'll fix it. I think I've fixed everything but would appreciate some more eagle eyes on the job. Email me on <a href="mailto:jacqui@monarch.org.nz">jacqui@monarch.org.nz</a>. Thanks! </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/spring-is-coming#post-11243 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:18:01 +0000 jacqui 11243@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>An exciting report today from Nelson. </p> <p>A female Monarch released on 28 March (by Alex Giblin) was seen mating about ten blocks further north of where Alex lives!</p> <p>So she is definitely one of our overwintering population - almost five months old! Dare I say it... does she and her partner believe that Spring is just around the corner - it's time to lay eggs?</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/nelson-2010-08-22-151500-2/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/nelson-2010-08-22-151500-2/</a></p> <p>Jacqui </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/bit-battered#post-11283 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:48:59 +0000 jacqui 11283@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Keith Moore posted a photograph of a battered Monarch here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/28/bit-battered/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/28/bit-battered/</a></p> <p>He is looking forward to Spring too. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/admiral-of-the-butterfly-fleet#post-11260 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:28:57 +0000 Blutterfy 11260@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>In this months (August'10) issue of 'Forest and Bird' magazine is an excellent 1 page article by Mandy Herrick about broadcaster Graeme Hill and his fight for the Admiral butterflies amongst other threatened native species, and a second page written by Graeme Hill on 'How to breed red and yellow admiral butterflies in your backyard'.</p> <p>Really good informative article about Graeme and how he got interested, and Excellent 'How to' as well.</p> <p>Jane </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/buddleia-lindleyana-for-sale-on-trade-me#post-11212 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:21:02 +0000 flutterbys 11212@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi Everyone</p> <p>We have a new type of Buddleia for sale on Trade Me.<br /> Its called Buddleia lindleyana (weeping butterfly bush)<br /> This plant is good in a pot or on a slight hill and you can walk underneath and have the weeping branches with flowers hanging down over you.<br /> Look for us under member name butterfly-trust or just type in Buddleias in the search box on Trade Me.</p> <p>Cheers<br /> Char </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/asclepias-incarnata-ice-ballet-white-flowered-seed#post-11109 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:15:49 +0000 milkweed 11109@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Free to a good home. Just send me a stamped, self addressed envelope and i will post you either 10 or 15 seeds depending on demand.<br /> I counted 52 seeds in one pod and i have 5-7 pods.<br /> My address: Milkweed, 38 Nga Tawa Road, R.D 1, Marton, 4787. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/excellent-historical-novel-lady-of-the-butterflies#post-11256 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:00:17 +0000 jacqui 11256@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I borrowed this historical novel off a friend and I couldn't put it down. Written by Fiona Mountain and published in England last year, it tells the story of Eleanor Glanville, one of the earliest entomologists, who lived at the time of James Petiver. Petiver was an apothecary, famed for his botanical and entomological collections which are housed now in the British Natural History Museum. </p> <p>The study of insects was considered either lunacy or satanic rural England in the late 1600s. Eleanor (a real person, although much of the work is fiction) was entranced by butterflies all her life - and this tells her story with flair and passion.</p> <p>This book is a great portrayal of Restoration England with ongoing tensions between Puritan and Cavalier, suspicion of Catholics and the draining of marshland which would destroy both habitat and peasants' livelihoods.</p> <p>No-one for sure knows how butterflies were "made". There are many superstitions about it - and if you go chasing butterflies, some people think you're a witch while others think you're insane!</p> <p>In the fenlands (fresh or salt water marshlands) peasants' homes would be flooded for a good part of the year - and they could only inhabit the upper storey of their homes during the winter. However, the people depended on rushes and sedges and eels and marsh-dwelling fish to survive. </p> <p>About this time there was a move to drain the fenlands and make them "more productive". These drained fenlands were one of the first habitats lost to butterflies; leaving less than 3% of fenland still remaining by the 20th Century.</p> <p>The destruction resulted in the first known butterfly extinction - that of the Large Copper, which was last seen in 1851.</p> <p>The Swallowtail survives in Britain now only in the Norfolk Broads. Of Britain's butterflies today, 71% are now declining and 45% of species are threatened, mainly due to loss of habitat.</p> <p>The Glanville Fritillary (named after Eleanor) is classified as rare but is still to be found on the Isle of Wight.</p> <p>The loss of wetland floodplains (according to leading environmentalists) have caused some of the devastating floods that have affected Britain over recent years. </p> <p>If you can find the book at your local library, make sure you read it, I found it most enjoyable and learned a lot about the consequences of "development" and the history of this era. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/2011-calendar#post-11254 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:12:50 +0000 Chrissie Ward 11254@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>The MBNZT calendar for 2011 is fabulous! I've been telling friends about it and have got lots of orders. Stunning photos, including one of our beloved monarch, of course, but also admirals, copper, cinnabar moth ... and right at the back, an extraordinary "micro moth" that only measures 5.5mm! The calendar will be ready in October, and will make an ideal gift for posting. Buy one for yourself and keep the pictures. A bargain at $20. I'm already looking forward to the calendar for 2012.<br /> Chrissie </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/ecofest-nelson#post-11246 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:11:05 +0000 jacqui 11246@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Great photographs from Kath Widdowson:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/ecofest-nelson-2010/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/ecofest-nelson-2010/</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/geometrid-moths#post-11245 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:27:45 +0000 jacqui 11245@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Mike Lusk has posted some great photos of geometrid moths here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/geometrid-moths/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/22/geometrid-moths/</a></p> <p>I would love to know more about them (hint hint). What size are they? Where are you likely to find them? Among holes in my cashmere sweater? Laying eggs in my bag of meal? :) </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/seed-podswhat-do-i-do-with-them#post-9697 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:55:32 +0000 Alison 9697@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Gosh, I thought I was doing well at close to 75 - are you tagging them? We have a local park here in Pukekohe that has planted quite a few swan plants. Took the kids to play there over the weekend and brought home about 20 very large cats - most have pupated now. Managed to sneak up on 2 monarchs and tag them. There are heaps of cats in various stages at the park and the swan plants are covered in seed pods. Brought a couple of the pods back home as well but unsure how to harvest the seeds - do I just open them up and if so do I dry them - have absolutely no idea. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/monarchs-overwintering#post-11240 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:53:23 +0000 MaryL 11240@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi there Jacqui ,just reporting on a visit to Woodham Park<br /> (CHCH) Friday 20th Aug. Last time I was there about 2 mths ago I saw half a dozen sunning themselves but sadly there was no sign of any this time. I also checked on the ground again I found none not good at all.<br /> I am going to go to James Park(CHCH) this coming week hopefully I will have more luck there.<br /> Mary L </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/designing-a-monarch-habitat#post-11216 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:08:06 +0000 jacqui 11216@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Then this report from California will be of interest to you.</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/15/monarch-habitat/stevensandfrey/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/15/monarch-habitat/stevensandfrey/</a></p> <p>To add to this, according to Paul Cherubini in California, the authors claim "moisture regimes act as a strong bottom-up driver of monarch abundance pattern via resource availability in western USA" and that years with above normal Jan-Sept rainfall produce higher subsequent numbers of monarchs at the overwintering sites.</p> <p>However, the worst drought in California history occurred between 1987- late 1991 and monarch numbers peaked during the dryest period of that drought (peaked in 1989, 1990 and 1991). Then ironically the monarch population crashed in mid-late summer of 1992 despite abundant rains during the preceding wintering and spring.</p> <p>And this year, we are not seeing a major boom in monarch<br /> abundance despite above the normal rainfall last winter and spring and relative cool to average temperatures this past spring and summer.</p> <p>It's interesting - wish someone would do some research on why our Monarch population crashed last year. HOPEFULLY things will rectify themselves this summer... ROLL ON SUMMER. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/sad-my-caterpillars-are-dying#post-11234 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:09:23 +0000 MikeHoeta 11234@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I've lost about 6 caterpillars to the cold I presume, they were huge and ready to pupate I thought, I put them in the garage but it made no difference, one crawled up the wall and died and another fell into the dirt and one crawled on the pot and died. Some of the plants were transplanted and a little wilted but not too bad, i put a good plant right next to it so they could transfer if they wanted but no luck. I have now put some in the sun but in a sheltered area, I'll see what happens. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/overwintering-cluster-in-christchurch#post-11233 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:57:44 +0000 jacqui 11233@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Great photos here from Liz Rawson, of Monarchs overwintering in Christchurch.</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/16/victoria-park-christchurch/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/16/victoria-park-christchurch/</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/calendar#post-11228 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:50:49 +0000 jacqui 11228@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>See the calendar here. </p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/MBT-Calendar-2011-LRD-low-sample.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/MBT-Calendar-2011-LRD-low-sample.pdf</a></p> <p>And then send your order ($20 each) to the MBNZT, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland, 1246 - or you can pay by internet banking.</p> <p>Cheques should be made out to MBNZT, or into the account of the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust with Kiwibank,account number 38-9009-0654693-00.Please ensure you code your payment with your surname and send us an email with your details. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/black-chrysalis#post-11221 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:11:03 +0000 hwood 11221@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I had two chrysalis on my plant for ages and ages. One has turned black (could see wings fine) and hatched etc. The other is still very very black. Cant really see wings that well. Should I wait or has it died? My plant does not get as much sun as I would like in the winter due to positioning and I wonder if thats what has caused the problem - too much cold? My plant also has a few black mould on the bottom leaves which am not sure about.</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Heidi </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/a-determined-caterpillar#post-11220 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:59:45 +0000 hwood 11220@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I have a caterpillar who won't stop roaming! I found him 5 metres from the plant on a piece of wood and not very big - I reckon he is only in the 3/4th instar. Anyway I brought him inside till he warmed up and was moving again. Tried to put him on the plant and he would not go on! So I cut off a branch brought it inside and have him on that. He was wandered off twice and keeps falling (into my hands). I have never had one like this!! Could it be he actually wants to pupate but had been away from the main plant so long he has lost weight and thats why he is smaller? Not sure what to do with him. All my other caterpillars have disappeared in recent weeks, hence my intervention now trying to rescue this one! Any advice??? Oh and he does not seem to want to eat either. Got nice juicy leaves - but he just sits there. </p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>Heidi </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/some-fun-stuff-for-kids#post-11224 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:02:52 +0000 jacqui 11224@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p><a href="http://suziq56.glogster.com/glog-340-655/" rel="nofollow">http://suziq56.glogster.com/glog-340-655/</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/overwintering-roost-whakatane#post-11169 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:37:53 +0000 jacqui 11169@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>We had an enthusiastic letter from a man in England, who turns out to be a Vice President of Butterfly Conservation there - and while he and his wife were visiting Whakatane (NZ was the best trip they've EVER had) they sighted Monarchs overwintering...</p> <p>You can see his photographs here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/05/wintering-roost-whakatane/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/05/wintering-roost-whakatane/</a></p> <p>(Sorry - photos didn't come through - I'll have to fix this later, no time this morning). </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/some-monarch-videos#post-11214 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:06:39 +0000 jacqui 11214@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Monarch Migration Navigation (Steven Reppert interview): <a href="http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/2010/01/07/SciTech-Migration-of-monarch/1262875895.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.necn.com/Boston/SciTech/2010/01/07/SciTech-Migration-of-monarch/1262875895.html</a></p> <p>Life of a Monarch Butterfly Time Lapse: <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4607847/life_of_a_monarch_butterfly_time_lapse/" rel="nofollow">http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4607847/life_of_a_monarch_butterfly_time_lapse/</a></p> <p>Monarchs in Space – Interview with Chip Taylor: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lcgYNyCvU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lcgYNyCvU</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/toxicity-of-milkweed-species-and-other-plants#post-11207 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:25:48 +0000 jacqui 11207@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Nigel Venters, a lepidopterist overseas, has contributed to a discussion on the toxicity of milkweeds. He made a point I haven't been aware of:</p> <p>Many plants and trees, when eaten back by caterpillars, produce a stronger toxin to deter further attack. This is a common and well known phenomenon. In fact many insect species have only one brood a year in the spring, and do so because of this. </p> <p>An interesting example is the oak, which always produces a much more toxic dose of chemicals in a secondary flush around August in the Northern Hemisphere after the spring growth has been eaten. </p> <p>He said that A. curassavica has much stronger toxins than the Gomphocarpus species. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/still-going#post-11180 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:55:49 +0000 judi 11180@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Butterflies with scrunched wings plopping out of too-long-black chrysalises BUT this week TWO healthy butterflies + one just a little crinkled..now WHERE is that sunny day for them? I have a large potted plant (actually 6-8 plants in one pot from Kings, thank you Kings for your swans :-)) in a sunny room...well, if there WAS any sun,that is!<br /> Last b'fly in July stayed with me 2 weeks, broken wing &amp; wouldnt have survived outside. But dont think I have the nectar right because he seemed dehydrated. (Could they get clogged up with mixture?)No, they wont stay still enough for a face wash :-)<br /> Ive made up 1tsp manuka honey in 1/2 glass water &amp; one drop soy (for the males :-), cut a thin piece of sponge &amp; soaked it - but these 2-3 day olds crawl across it (after one took a few sips yesterday)&amp; arent interested even tho quite lively today in relative warmth.<br /> No, I dont have any blooms. B'flies needing feeding are too wobbly to sit on flowers.<br /> Have I got the mix right, will they feed when desperate as my little 2-week visitor did? - he died on my birthday :-(<br /> &amp; last question - will another sunny day EVER come?<br /> ps... today I bought a heat mat - now what? Well, that's less than I paid for SO many swan plants in summer! :-) </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/lucky-winners#post-11200 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:07:59 +0000 jacqui 11200@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Here are the lucky prize winners - people who renewed/joined before the end of July. If you've missed out, never fear... we might come up with some other initiatives to encourage you to help us with our fundraising. </p> <p>A Box of Bugs = Rosser, Michele<br /> Butterfly Creek passes = Delaney, Jan<br /> Caterpillar soft toy = Hibbert, Janis<br /> Ocean Organics = Curran, Jannette<br /> Tui Garden Products = Milne, Barbara<br /> Umbrella = Needham, Christina</p> <p>Thanks to the donors of the prizes. If you want to join, and thus help us raise funds for the trust ($20 to get the newsletter by email, or $25 to get the newsletter in the mail) you can download the form here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/members/membership-form/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/members/membership-form/</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/whangarei-members#post-11196 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:19 +0000 MikeHoeta 11196@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I'm new at this so I would like to make contact with any Whangarei members so I can perhaps have a look at what they do and have a chat, my email is <a href="mailto:mhoeta@xtra.co.nz">mhoeta@xtra.co.nz</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/just-gardening-at-kumeu-in-auckland#post-11186 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:19:41 +0000 flutterbys 11186@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi Everyone</p> <p>The MBNZT will have a stall at the 'Just Gardening' at Kumeu show on the 25th September.<br /> See the COMING EVENTS tag on the right.<br /> Could anyone help with butterflies and caterpillars for our display at the show.<br /> If you do manage to find any butterflies and caterpillars can you email me please on <a href="mailto:charlotte@monarch.org.nz">charlotte@monarch.org.nz</a> and we will come and collect them;-)</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Char </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/laying-eggs-elsewhere#post-11181 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:02:59 +0000 judi 11181@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Do Monarchs get mistaken or...?<br /> A couple of year ago, I saw a monarch laying an egg on a Frangipani - unfortuntely I didnt wait to see what happened!<br /> :-) </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/nectar-plants-for-sale-on-trade-me#post-11179 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:07:30 +0000 flutterbys 11179@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi Everyone</p> <p>We have more Buddleias and other nectar plants for sale on Trade Me.<br /> <a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Outdoor-garden-conservatory/Plants-pots/Other/auction-309020707.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Outdoor-garden-conservatory/Plants-pots/Other/auction-309020707.htm</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/wheres-my-glasses#post-11177 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:18:25 +0000 jacqui 11177@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I received the newsletter from Te Puna Quarry Park today and was taking a glance at it...</p> <p>"John, Chas and Tom love making in Geddes Grove" I read. WHAT??? WHO???? WHERE??? OMG!!!</p> <p>I fetched my glasses. They were LAWN making, not LOVE making. Phew! </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/damaged-wings-oe-and-microscopes#post-10269 Sun, 16 May 2010 17:23:13 +0000 Jennifer 10269@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I found a butterfly lying on the ground yesterday with deformed wings. It was untagged and so I suspected OE. I took a sample of scales from its abdomen and looked at it with my microscope and not a single spore could I see. While I had the microscope out I also had a look at scales on the abdomen of one that had recently hatched inside but seemed to have weak legs, again not a spore to be seen.<br /> I would have thought that there would be the odd one lingering at least so I did wonder if I were looking for the right thing.<br /> I looked outside where I had found the deformed one and it had pupated on the underside of a ginger leaf. I think the leaf might have been too smooth and given it poor grip so I blame the caterpillar. (and yes we can grow edible gingers in Dunedin!)<br /> So that leads me to saying if anyone in the area wants to look at their scale sample slides with my microscope (a decent one) they are welcome to contact me. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/gold-dots-on-monarch-chrysalis#post-11172 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:25:08 +0000 jacqui 11172@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi all</p> <p>When I am talking with schools, sooner or later a child will ask a question "what are the gold dots on the chrysalis/pupa for".</p> <p>I did some homework on this some years ago and found out that no-one exactly knew what purpose they had. I have a different theory - see below. George Gibbs told me that (my words) they are an "optical illusion" - something that isn't really there, but can be seen by our eyes - rather like a rainbow (that was my interpretation of what he said.)</p> <p>This is what Mona reports on the North American Monarch Watch list - from a discussion in the Monarch Watch forum (thanks Hope):</p> <p>"From Journey North:http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/ExpertAnswer06.html</p> <p>Q: What is the gold for on the chrysalis and how does it turn black? Baeley/Jack<br /> &gt;From Journey North:http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/ExpertAnswer06.html</p> <p>Q: What is the gold for on the chrysalis and how does it turn black? Baeley/Jack<br /> A: Fred Urquhart first studied the gold spots on monarchs in the 1970s. He felt that the spots were involved in the distribution or formation wing scale coloration. However, the experiments that he did involved cauterizing the gold spots on the pupa, and it is possible that this process may have damaged the underlying tissue and affected the color patterns. Interestingly, all danaine butterflies (monarchs and their relatives) have metallic spots on them. A group of researchers in Germany did a careful study of the properties of these spots. They are not metallic, but the cells reflect light like metals do, giving them the appearance of being metallic. Other danaids have silver, copper, or gold spots.</p> <p>Here are some hypotheses for the reasons that these butterflies have metallic-looking spots on their pupae:<br /> a) camouflage – they could reflect colors of the surroundings and break up the shape of the pupa; they might also look like dew droplets.<br /> b) Warning coloration<br /> c) Filtering particular wavelengths of light which might be harmful to the monarchs<br /> d) They might not have any function, but just be the result of something else in the cuticle of the insect."</p> <p>Anyway - I will stick with my theory, I invented it, I like it!</p> <p>I tell the kid(s) that No-one in the World (note capitalisation for dramatic effect) Knows the Secret of the Gold Dots.</p> <p>I go on to say that when I am in an old people's home, and playing Scrabble with their teacher (name)... and I go on to act this drama out... one day there will be a knock at the door (KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! for effect - really wakes the kids up!).</p> <p>And there will be a very tall young man or woman at the door. And they will say their name, "do you remember me?" And it will be (and I ask the child their name). Or maybe it will be Anton or Susie or Kerimoana or Abdul... all kids who are in this class.</p> <p>And I will say something like "what do you want - you're interrupting our game of Scrabble, and I was winning (etc)"</p> <p>And they will say... "thanks to the great teacher(s) I had, I studied hard and I have become an Entomologist and I have Studied the Monarch Butterfly and I have Discovered the Secret of the Gold Dots".</p> <p>I love seeing the kids' eyes light up and you can SEE them thinking "wow - that might be me!" and it really makes my day. Ends my presentation on a very high note.</p> <p>So that's my theory - those gold dots are there to inspire and encourage us. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/asclepias-and-gomphocarpus-species-seed-pods#post-11171 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:40:34 +0000 jacqui 11171@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Darren has provided an interesting observation here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/06/seedpods/" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/2010/08/06/seedpods/</a></p> <p>Thanks Darren for all you do. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/finding-a-male-emperor-gum-moth-in-indiana-usa#post-11151 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:14:02 +0000 heatherlaney 11151@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>i was outside on a break from work when i was lolokng down at what i thought was a dead leaf and started walking close to it to find out that i was a huge moth and being used to seeing small moths this was a shocking to see a moth this big in my area. so i brushed my shoe with it to make sure it was alive or dead and then it took off and flew about 15 feet away and landed there. i went out a few time to check on it but could tell that the moth was weak. so i went out on my last break to check on it to see if it had flown away but found out that it had died. so now i would like to frame it but do not know how to go about it and to see a moth that big in my area is not something you see everyday. this is the first time in my life that if seen a moth like that. so i dont know if they are rare to find here or not but i'm very fasinated about it and want to preserve my findings. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/peporting-on-kowhai-park-feilding#post-9555 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:58:41 +0000 Swansong 9555@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> Just been down to the park to release more butterflies this a.m. FOr those who dont know, there is a really nice fenced off area dedicated to Monarchs in this park, and therein are about 200 swanplants theyve planted this year. </p> <p>They all know I &quot;flog&quot; nettle outa there and theyre pretty pleased that I do so. : ).</p> <p>Just talking to the guys down there and the report is that they have had an absolute bumper season. Monarchs GALORE. The guy I spoke to this a.m. said last weekend there were literelly hundreds and hundreds of them, and there were heaps generally parked up around the trees. Another guy a week or 2 back told me everything seemed to have happened at the right time, as the swanplants had heaps of nectar on them, to feed many many butterflies. </p> <p>Today I see theres HEAPS MORE monarchs hatching under the pickett fence railing. Theres still chrysalides GALORE. The plants are fairly boned out but theres still quite a bit of leaf at one end of the area. The plants are also sprouting again. DIdnt see any eggs. I brought home about 60 to finish off and the biggest are inside now. </p> <p>WHat a difference a few miles make in comparison with my season. They dont seem to have had many pests, from what I can remember they controlled the aphids with an organic spray.</p> <p>Cheers<br /> Swansong </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/usefulness-of-sporadic-sightings#post-11135 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:27:32 +0000 Rose 11135@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I've become curious about Monarchs since some friends released a group of Monarchs as part of a wedding ceremony, and they were slow to fly (which I later found was possibly to do with temperature). While idly googling after another friend mentioned a school project about Monarchs I came across this site. </p> <p>I'm wondering how significant sightings are: eg I see the odd one in my garden, and whether it's important to report these. I suspect my garden is not especially "friendly" "plantwise" and I have a cat, which may be a deterrent.</p> <p>I live in Fkaxmere, Hastings, so am not especially inclined to walk the streets in pursuit of butterflies, but could go to some of our parks, both in Flaxmere and Hastings, if that would be helpful. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/wise-1980-monarch-butterfly-dispersal-in-new-zealand#post-11144 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:43:40 +0000 Darren 11144@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Wise, K.A.J. (1980) "Monarch Butterfly Dispersal in New Zealand". Records Auckland Institute &amp; Museum 17:157-173</p> <p>Keith Wise has kindly granted us permission to make his 1980 paper available online via our website. This details the tagging research that he did from 1967-1974. If you are interested in our tagging research then this paper is a fascinating read, and explains a lot about what we are doing as we seek to extend his research.</p> <p>the link is<br /> <a href="http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Wise-1980-Monarch-Butterfly-Dispersal-in-New-Zealand.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Wise-1980-Monarch-Butterfly-Dispersal-in-New-Zealand.pdf</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/update-from-britain#post-11107 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:16:53 +0000 jacqui 11107@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Member Roger Frost is currently in England and writes:</p> <p>Hello again Jacqui:</p> <p>This weekend marks the beginning of the big butterfly count in the UK sponsored by a large retail chain Marks and Spencers.</p> <p>I thought you might be interested in the web site in which you can submit sightings and search results by species, habitat, dates and locations. I am very impressed by the mapping technology and ease of use of the site. Needless to say I have been out today recording observations and feeding them into the database, and they appear on the map immediately.</p> <p>The identification chart is also very good, and records on the map can be placed and retrieved at a very high level of precision.</p> <p>Thought you might enjoy looking at the site, here is the link;</p> <p><a href="http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/</a></p> <p>Half an hour ago at 10:30 pm I went 100m up the road to look for glowworms in the local churchyard, and to my amazement found 10! Have not seen these since I was a kid here over 50 years ago. I don't know if you know them, but they are a wingless beetle about the size of a mature yellow admiral larva, with their last three abdominal segments glowing green in the dark. Magical!</p> <p>Cheers</p> <p>Roger </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/blenheim-sun-page-4#post-11126 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:59:55 +0000 Darren 11126@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Jacqui made the paper again, this time the Blenheim Sun. I can't provide a decent link sorry, they use some silly flash abomination. But if you click on this link then on the top right of page 4 there is a story titled "Students and Butterflies" about Blenheim school.</p> <p><a href="http://issuu.com/blenheimsun/docs/blenheim_sun_july_28/4" rel="nofollow">http://issuu.com/blenheimsun/docs/blenheim_sun_july_28/4</a> </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/yellow-lantana-wanted#post-11122 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:44:31 +0000 jacqui 11122@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Is anyone able to help with a yellow Lantana plant? Wanted to butterfly garden being developed in Kawhia. They have also asked about a 'red' one (Lantana) but I do not recall a red one.</p> <p>J. </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/powdery-mildew-can-i-save-my-plants#post-10886 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:18:59 +0000 Stefan Olson 10886@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>I have six ~2-3m tall swan plants in my (indoor) conservatory. Unfortunately, I have had a bit of infestation of white fly and also powdery mildew. The later has virtually completely infested all but one of the plants, which is starting to succumb in some places. </p> <p>I have tried Yates Rose Gun , which I think has slightly reduced the white fly population, but it seems to have made little impact on the powdery mildew, which might be because there is so many leaves infested with it, it’s almost impossible to get them all.</p> <p>Am I better to just kill them and start over, or is there a way I can save them from this position?</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Stefan </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/a-group-of-monarchs-sighted#post-11110 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:49:55 +0000 Nic 11110@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi there,<br /> Just thought I'd touch base here and post about my discovery over the weekend.</p> <p>We had a beautiful weekend in the Auckland area, with Sunday being quite warm. My family and I were out and about on Sunday and we stopped in at the Stell Mill Lookout, at Glenbrook (close to Waiuku/Pukekohe areas, Sth Auckland).</p> <p>Within 2 minutes we had spotted 5 different Monarchs feeding on various Hebes and lavender in the gardens below a huge group of trees, which I'm pretty sure were mostly cypress and even a few redwoods. </p> <p>I chased them around like a mad thing (best I could without disturbing their natural feeding of course ;o) to look for tags. Alas none of those ones were tagged. I walked around under the trees looking for any that might have died and dropped if they were over-wintering but couldn't find any there either.</p> <p>The butterflies were various sizes and were quite battered. Very faded looking wings and some were quite tattered too. Maybe... just maybe we have a small group overwintering in the trees there. I know I only saw five, but we didn't stay long, who knows how many may have ventured out during the warmest part of the day.</p> <p>It was a fun find, which would only have been made better had some had tags on!</p> <p>Nic </p> http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/topic/nectar-plants-for-sale-1#post-11106 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:19:19 +0000 flutterbys 11106@http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ <p>Hi Everyone</p> <p>We have some different varieties of nectar plants for the butterflies available for sale on Trade Me.<br /> We also have been given some smaller Hibiscus plants to sell and these are on Trade Me as well. Kindly donated by Heather Shingles. (Thanks Heather)</p> <p>We hope to have some Arctotis plants for sale on Trade Me very soon. </p> <p>I've posted the links below to take you to the auctions.</p> <p><a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305852497" rel="nofollow">http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305852497</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305855259" rel="nofollow">http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305855259</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305856195" rel="nofollow">http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=305856195</a></p> <p>Thanks<br /> Char </p>