Copper Butterfly
Now is a good time to be on the lookout for invertebrates in the Park, including butterflies.
Commonest of the butterflies is regrettably the cabbage white which was first recorded in Napier in 1930. Efforts to control it included the introduction of 2 wasp species which parasitised the caterpillars but these wasps and others are almost certainly part of the reason for the serious decline in numbers of nearly all of our native butterflies. Native butterflies to be found in the Park are the common blue and at least one species of copper. Both these are small and most likely to be seen in open areas.
Red and yellow admirals are also present in small numbers and both lay their eggs on stinging nettle. This is the main reason we don’t attempt to remove ongaonga which is the largest nettle in the world and which has a far worst reputation than it deserves. Having said that, it can cause serious poisoning in dogs.
Monarchs are present too but as there are no food plants for their caterpillars they are more likely to be seen in home gardens outside the Park.
Mecodema temata
I don’t think the insect population has ever been formally surveyed, but one, a black carnivorous beetle living in Te Mata Park, has been tentatively named Mecodema temata. This nocturnal ground beetle has been put forward as a new species by a fellow in Auckland studying the family, although I understand it there are some formalities required before it is accepted by the scientific community. The family is large-29,000 worldwide, 430 in NZ and some are endangered.
Some of this Carabidae family have a striking irridescence. These and other interesting ‘bugs’ can be found under rocks and logs but if you move such a cover object please replace it VERY carefully, and please don’t collect any of the creatures you find.
Thank you to Mike Lusk from Friends of Te Mata Park for providing this interesting article.
