Bring back butterflies

New Zealand butterfly enthusiasts are concerned some varieties may be headed for extinction.

In Britain, the charity Butterfly Conservation called on its government to declare a “Nature Emergency” because of the decline of butterflies in that country, and some in New Zealand fear we may be headed down the same path.

The British charity says 80% of their butterfly species have declined since the 1970s and a third of moth numbers going in that same period. As a first step they ask for an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides.

On another continent, Jaime Rojo, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is also concerned, focusing his appeal on the monarch migration in North America. It is estimated that the monarch population has dropped by 90% since the 1990s. As well as pesticide use, climate change, and habitat destruction, the growing of avocados in what was once the monarchs’ natural habitat is also part of the problem. “Here in New Zealand, we should be worried as well,” said Jacqui Knight, founding trustee of the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust (MBNZT). “Even more so – as most New Zealand people don’t even know about the beautiful species we do have. If you don’t know something exists, you don’t realise it is on its way to extinction.”

The MBNZT is currently bringing back the beautiful New Zealand red admiral butterfly to Auckland where it hasn’t been seen for at least 20 years since the time Auckland was sprayed with insecticide for the painted apple moth. Even the monarch butterfly here in New Zealand is at risk. In Christchurch, MBNZT members have seen a huge decline in the number of monarchs that overwinter in the city’s parks. For these reasons the MBNZT has produced a list of “Dos and Don’ts” for those people who are keen to help the monarch population bounce back over the summer and in future years.

“We urge monarch lovers to follow the advice on our website,” said Jacqui. “There are so many ways in which we can help our beautiful butterflies.”

• Some of the dos and don’ts are listed here, however for the full list visit the website www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/dos-and-donts