Almost all of the butterflies in New Zealand are native and most are endemic. Compared to big, colourful species from other countries, our native butterflies are small and secretive. When someone ...
Big, bold butterflies like the monarch are easy to spot. If you want to see some of our natives, careful observation is the key.
The MothNet Shedding Light on the Night and Ahi Pepe Mothnet projects involve the collection and identification of moth species. The project is a partnership between schools and Manaaki Whenua – ...
In this activity, students set up and walk a transect to observe and record butterfly sightings. Butterfly sightings are then recorded on the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust website. Modify ...
In this activity, students place small stickers (tags) onto caught or newly emerged monarch butterflies and release them into the environment. The tag number, information about the butterfly and ...
In this activity, students use white butterfly eggs, larvae and pupae to examine the white butterfly life cycle and to compare it with that of a monarch butterfly. By the end of this activity ...
iNaturalist logs hundreds of thousands of photos of flora, fauna and fungi. There are even sound recordings too. Each is described and geo located. iNaturalist is used by citizens and scientists ...
This project involves the pesky Pieris rapae (better known as the white butterfly or white cabbage butterfly), which is very common in New Zealand. It is believed to have originated in Europe and ...
Marine Metre Squared is a New Zealand citizen science project that supports communities to monitor their local seashore. The project has been designed to provide meaningful, valid environmental ...
This unit plan is designed for students in years 1-5. When someone mentions the word butterfly, what image pops into your head? Chances are it’s the monarch or the white butterfly, as these are ...
This unit plan is designed for students in years 6-8. When someone mentions the word ‘butterfly’, what image pops into your head? Chances are it’s the monarch or the white butterfly, as these are ...
Here are links to Science Learning Hub resources for primary teachers related to insects in the Living World strand of the New Zealand Curriculum. Investigate insects found in New Zealand to ...
Watch varroa mites (white juveniles and brown adults) on honey bees and learn how they spread viruses that kill bee colonies. Dr Mark Goodwin of Plant & Food Research shows hives being ...
E whakamārama ana a Georgia, tētahi o kā ākoka ki Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti, me pēhea te whakarite i te tārore pepe tuna Heath, ki te whakamanea, ki te hopu i kā pepe tuna. English ...
Quantitative ecologist Dr Barbara Anderson and Lily from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti explain why the Ahi Pepe MothNet project uses a Heath trap for the collection of moth data.
Use this New Zealand native butterflies slideshow to learn more about native butterfly habits and behaviour, then go butterfly hunting!
Most of New Zealand's butterflies belong to the Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae families. Remember for optional viewing of this slide show select the full screen icon.
The life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Click on one of titles to find out more about each stage.
