Go on a Hunt for Butterflies and Moths and Report your Sightings

Scavenger HuntsBugs/ InvertebratesKaitiaki/Conservation
Written By Kim Manunui

Butterflies and moths are some of our most interesting and beautiful insects. Butterflies make us feel happy and think of summer. Moths are mysterious creatures, often coming out at night and fluttering around our lights. New Zealand is home to over 2000 types of native butterflies and moths! Did you know that New Zealand has a higher rate of unique butterfly and moth species than anywhere else in the world? 92% of our species are found nowhere else in the world! Our species are quite different to Australia’s species. A high proportion of our species have larvae that feed on leaf litter. We also have a large number of brightly coloured day-flying moth species. Many New Zealand species of butterflies and moths are very rare, often only living in a small place.

Go on a butterfly and moth hunt! You are more likely to spot butterflies out during a beautiful sunny summer’s day, where as you are more likely to spot moths in the evening, especially around a light. See below for instructions on how to make a moth catcher.

*Credit to KCC magazine, click HERE to subscribe to this fantastic magazine for Kiwi kids

*Credit to KCC magazine, click HERE to subscribe to this fantastic magazine for Kiwi kids

When you find a butterfly or moth, use the SEEK app to identify it, or use this website.  It is really interesting to find out the species of your butterfly and whether it is a native insect, or an introduced one.

Then you can be a citizen scientist and to record your sightings using the iNaturalist app or take part in the Big Butterfly Count.

The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust have an awesome PDF recording sheet that you can download here

https://www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Big-Butterfly-Count-2024-Tally-Sheet.pdf

https://www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Big-Butterfly-Count-2024-Tally-Sheet.pdf

If you are interested in the differences between butterflies and moths you can watch a video about this below.

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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