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New Zealand Butterfly Information
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ID Guide
Online or Printable [PDF] News Hungry Monarch's?
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New Zealand has a range of colourful butterflies that come in all sizes from small to large. They are sun-loving creatures that float around in between sun-bathing on flowers, stones and other perches. But does it seem that New Zealand only has a couple of butterflies, the Monarch and White Butterfly! In fact, there are at least seventeen native species which is presently under review. Ten of these are lowland species, so are fairly easy to see. There is also two migrant species that get to our shores fairly often from Australia, another one that occasionally visits, plus three others that seldom bother to visit us!
Butterflies are beautiful creatures that nearly everyone likes. The aim of nzButterfly.info is to provide details, descriptions and photos of all NZ Butterflies. This will enable you to identify each species and learn how to encourage them to your place. You will also learn where and when to look for each species.
Forest Ringlet photo donated by Jonathan Pote.
Donate a photo please.
There is already many donated photos on the website and full credit is given to the photographer
by the picture and on the Acknowledgements page when used. Photos
can be sent via the contact page.
What's that word?
This website uses proper scientific terminalogy, but don't threat, a glossary is provided for those scientific words. Such words are
either underlined or are green and turn yellow when the mouse goes over them (just like a butterfly scaring off a bird). These are
linked to a plain English
pop-up glossary so you don't loose
your way on the page. If you use a popup blocker, the glossary is under the 'Resources' menu at the
top of each page.
Butterfly or Moth?
New Zealand has many day-flying Moths which are really pretty and fly like a butterfly. So confusing, so how does one tell them apart?
The key is to look at their Antennae. See more on our page listing the differences
Butterflies and Moths here.
Take a closer look, educate yourself and conserve what we have.
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