List of butterflies of New Zealand

Caterpillars of several butterflies and moths of New Zealand

The butterflies of New Zealand include twelve endemic species, as well as several introduced and migrant species. Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths, is the third largest insect order in New Zealand.

Species list

Boulder copper (Lycaena boldenarum)
Red admiral (Vanessa gonerilla)
Black mountain ringlet (Percnodaimon merula)
Common tussock (Argyrophenga antipodum)
Scientific name Local English name[1] Māori name[1] Native/introduced/migrant[1] Conservation status[2]
Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius, 1775) lemon emigrant very rare migrant
Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) white butterfly pepe mā introduced
Lycaena boldenarum White, 1862 boulder copper pepe para riki native, endemic
Lycaena salustius (Fabricius, 1793) common copper pepe para riki native, endemic
Lycaena feredayi (Bates, 1867) glade copper pepe para riki native, endemic
Lycaena rauparaha (Fereday, 1877) Rauparaha's copper mokarakare native, endemic
Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) long-tailed blue native (self-introduced)
Zizina otis labradus (Godart, 1824) common blue pepe ao uri native or possibly introduced
Zizina oxleyi (C. & R. Felder, 1865) southern blue native, endemic
Tirumala hamata hamata (MacLeay, 1826) Australian blue tiger very rare migrant
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) monarch kahuku native (self-introduced)
Danaus petilia (Stoll, 1790) lesser wanderer rare migrant
Junonia villida calybe Godart, 1819 Australian meadow argus very rare migrant
Hypolimnas bolina nerina (Fabricius, 1775) blue moon regular migrant
Vanessa itea (Fabricius, 1775) yellow admiral kahu kōwhai native
Vanessa gonerilla gonerilla (Fabricius, 1775) [New Zealand] red admiral kahu kura native, endemic
Vanessa gonerilla ida (Alfken, 1899) Chatham Island red admiral kahu kura native, endemic
Vanessa kershawi (McCoy, 1868) Australian painted lady pepe parahua regular migrant
Melanitis leda bankia (Fabricius, 1775) evening brown very rare migrant
Percnodaimon merula (Hewitson, 1875) black mountain ringlet pepe pouri native, endemic
Erebiola butleri Fereday, 1879 Butler's ringlet pepe pouri native, endemic
Dodonidia helmsii Butler, 1884 forest ringlet pepe pouri
te pēpepe pōuri 		native, endemic serious decline
Argyrophenga antipodum Doubleday, 1845 common tussock native, endemic
Argyrophenga harrisi Craw, 1978 Harris's tussock native, endemic
Argyrophenga janitae Craw, 1978 Janita's tussock native, endemic

Conservation

Very little is known about any butterfly extinctions since human settlement of New Zealand since they leave few remains. The majority of New Zealand invertebrates are found in forests, so it is possible that some butterflies became extinct due to the large scale forest clearance after human settlement.[3]

Very occasional migrants

Apart from the rare but consistent sightings of Australian migrant butterflies, several other species have also been recorded on the island over the years.

Species Location(s) Date Method of introduction
Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) Lincoln, Canterbury 13 August 2019[4] Unknown
Blue triangle (Graphium choredon) Prebbleton, Canterbury 15 March 2017 Unknown/wind current
Asian swallowtail (Papilio xuthus) Dunedin, Auckland 1996, 2011, 2016[5] Importation of citrus trees, importation of cars
Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina) Waikaia, Southland January 2010[6] Unknown/wind current
Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) Westshore, Hawkes Bay 22 January 2014[7] Likely importation of citrus/curry leaf plants
Small tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae

The small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), which is a butterfly native to Eurasia, was spotted near Lincoln University, Canterbury, on 13 August 2019, though the method of its introduction remains unknown.[4]

Blue triangle, Graphium choredon

The blue triangle (Graphium choredon), most likely from Australia, appeared in a Prebbleton garden feeding on aster flowers on 15 March 2017, likely carried by wind currents.[8]

Asian swallowtail, Papilio xuthus

The Asian swallowtail (Papilio xuthus) has been recorded in Dunedin in 1996, when a pupa emerged on a car which had recently been imported from Japan. Two further sightings were made in Auckland in 2011 and 2016, likely from the importation of citrus trees.[9]

Black Jezebel, Delias nigrina

The black Jezebel (Delias nigrina) was seen in Waikaia, Southland, after it was rescued from a spider web in January 2010, with its arrival also attributed to wind currents or unknown factors.[10]

Common Mormon, Papilio polytes

The common Mormon (Papilio polytes) was seen in the Westshore suburb of Napier, Hawke's Bay on 22 January 2014. The specimen resembled subspecies from Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is attributed to shipping of citrus or curry leaf plants.[7]

Samia cynthia has been spotted in Albert Park, Auckland.

Other species of Lepidoptera, such as saturniid moths have been sighted due to similar causes.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c New Zealand Butterfly Species
  2. ^ Hitchmough, R.; Bull, L.; Cromarty, P. (January 2007). New Zealand Threat Classification lists 2005 (PDF). Wellington: Department of Conservation.
  3. ^ The State of New Zealand’s Environment 1997 Archived 2009-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, Report Ref. ME612, Ministry for the Environment, Wellington, New Zealand.
  4. ^ a b Sullivan, Jon (13 August 2019). "Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  5. ^ Crowe, Andrew (2002). Which New Zealand insect? with over 650 life-size photos of New Zealand insects. Auckland, N.Z: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9.
  6. ^ Esler, Lloyd (11 May 2014). "Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b Patrick, Brian; Kleinpaste, Ruud (2015). "Second swallowtail butterfly species sighted in New Zealand".
  8. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-press/20170323/281595240355085?srsltid=AfmBOoq4ozmyEVYQ8rTc_L20SEA-E7uHp5CHdEYVc4F2rWEteWN9n_Xi. Retrieved 15 September 2024 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ Crowe, Andrew (2002). Which New Zealand insect? with over 650 life-size photos of New Zealand insects. Auckland, N.Z: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9.
  10. ^ Esler, Lloyd (11 May 2014). "Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 15 September 2024.

Further reading

  • Parkinson, Brian (c. 2000). Butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Reed. ISBN 0-7900-0734-7.
  • Gibbs, George (1980). New Zealand Butterflies: Identification and Natural History. Auckland, NZ: Collins. ISBN 0-00-216955-X.