Creature Feature #121: Comet Moth

The Comet Moth, or Madagascar Moon Moth, is one of the largest silk moths in the world. He can measure up to twenty cm across. Like many moths, he spends the majority of his life - about two months - as a caterpillar before pupating. His natural habitat is the rainforest, and the cocoon is riddled with holes to allow for drainage and prevent the pupae from drowning. Once he has hatched he is incapable of eating, and will only survive for 4-5 days. His main aim is to reproduce. Female Comet Moths can lay over 120 eggs. Like many Madagascan creatures, the Comet Moth is threatened by deforestation, but he does readily reproduce in captivity.

Creature Feature #60: Blue Morpho Butterfly

The Blue Morpho is a large and attractive butterfly. He makes his home in the tropical forests of Latin America, where he actively flits from flower to flower. The topside of his wings are a vibrant, irridescent blue; the undersides a dull brown and when he flies these flash and give the impression that he is vanishing and reappearing. When at rest, his wings are folded shut to offer camouflage against the many predators. The irridescence is created by microscopic scales that cover the wings and reflect light. Due to these vibrant colours, the Blue Morpho is prized by collectors and is hunted, but also bred in captivity, for this purpose. He is also under threat from deforestation.

Creature Feature #28: Atlas Moth

The Atlas Moth of South East Asia is the largest moth in the world, with a wingspan measuring up to 25cm (10 inches) wide. The female is larger than the male. To attract a mate, the female releases pheremones to lure the males towards her, using chemoreceptors in their fuzzy antennae. They can detect this up to several kilometres away, which is good because as large and heavy as she is, the female is an unsteady flier and will not move far from her chrysalis.

In India, the Atlas Moth chrysalis has been used to make silk and their cocoons are occasionally used as purses in Taiwan.

Flutterbys of New Zealand

Long-tailed Blue Butterfly on South Island Broom

There are several species of blue butterfly in New Zealand, and it is one of our most common, although rarely noticed next to the more fanciful Monarch and the pest species, the White Butterfly. This particular species is known as the "long-tailed" and was first noted in New Zealand in 1956. It is thought that it has self-introduced from Australia. A cosmopolitan species, it is also found in Europe, Hawaii, Africa and Asia along with the Pacific Islands.

Forest Ringlet with Native Foxglove

This attractive butterfly is also one of our most vulnerable to extinction. Its population has been in steady decline - probably due to wasp predation. The life cycle takes one year, although recent research shows that two year cycles may occur in highland areas.

Copper Butterfly with Alpine Daisy

This diminutive and pretty little butterfly is widespread across the country, and includes at least 40 different spcies, all that look similar and are referred to under the same name. They occupy a number of niches - including the alpine reaches. Related species also occur in the cloud forests of New Guinea and in the Northern hemisphere. Copper larvae are particular feeders, and only eat plants of the dock family.

Monarch Butterfly

Probably the most familiar of the New Zealand butterflies, the Monarch is large and prevalent in urban areas. It can be encouraged to the garden by planting milkweed (the "swan plant") which is the favoured food of the caterpillar. The male - on the left - has a black spot on his wings.

Yellow Admiral - Kahukowhai

The other commonly sighted native New Zealand butterfly. The Yellow Admiral is not endemic - it is also found in Australia and some of the islands. Its Maori name translates as "yellow cloak". It is a fast flier, thought to have been blown across the Tasman Sea. In behaviour it is not disimilar to the Red Admiral although it is not quite as long lived, lasting only a few months in its adult form. The larvae look similar and also live on nettle leaves. They feed at night, curling a leaf about them during the daylight hours.