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mbnzt.bsky.social

@mbnzt.bsky.social
115 followers 165 following 51 posts

The official account of the not-for-profit organisation, Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, ensuring New Zealand’s biodiversity promotes a thriving moth and butterfly population 🦋 nzbutterflies.org.nz

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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
1/3 🦋 Good ideas are easy to find. People who help make them happen are precious. Every success at the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust has volunteers behind it. Some have given years; others a few hours. Both matter. (more to come)
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Wednesday, 19 August is World Photography Day. We're sharing tips for photographers without "all the gear". Here's a few and there's more on other channels. linktr.ee/mbnzt Upload photos to iNaturalist.nz to get identification... helping nature AND you. Please share. #mbnzt
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Do you receive "The Weekender" from NZ Geographic? It's always a great read - and this week it profiles our Red Admiral Project www.nzgeo.com/stories/a-fl... #mbnzt #nzbutterflies #nzbutterfliesandmoths #nzgeo #nzgeographic #redadmiralproject #butterflies #kahukura #RedAdmiral #redadmiralbutterfly
a Red Admiral caterpillar on a green leaf in the sunshine
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Help our butterflies, join the MBNZT. Your membership helps us volunteers with vital projects for NZ species. Join now to go in the draw for a double pass (worth $50) to see CATERPILLAR in cinemas soon. All financial members qualify. Closes 30 April. www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/members/join/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Not sure about posting this contest here... but here goes - link is on linktr.ee/mbnzt
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Link to our contest: linktr.ee/mbnzt Today it's Heliotrope. Deep purple, fragrant flowers rich in nectar, a major drawcard for butterflies and pollinators. Low, spreading growth, beautiful, lush, dark green-burgundy foliage. #YatesNZ #butterfliesneednectar #mbnzt
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
We've been a bit busy in Wellington 🙂 so haven't been able to post about our fantastic new contest. You can see what we've been doing: tinyurl.com/GovHNZ4MB And even better, enter our contest for Yates NZ National Gardening Week, full details here: www.facebook.com/reel/1351760... Please SHARE
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
This is a tiny little copper butterfly, Lycaena species, only found in NZ! But which one? Thanks to a grant from Canon Oceania we will be closer to identifying exactly what species it is! #MBNZT #CanonANZ #ButterflyDiscoveryProject More information here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/butt...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori we are sharing a few whakataukī (proverbs) with you... so why not follow us and learn a little Te Reo? Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu, translated is "adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly". Plant for butterflies is planting for the future! #TeWikioteReoMāori
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
To help butterflies and moths this summer, NOW is a great time to do our two-hour Online Course. It will give you lots of ideas how to help our beautiful butterflies. Check it out here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/product/online-course/ #mbnzt #conservationweek2025 #conservationweek @docgovtnz
nzbutterflies.org.nz
Online Course - Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
It’s amazing how much we THOUGHT we knew about butterflies and moths, but we’re always learning. These are questions often asked by new members who come to our
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Everyone can learn the simple basics of ecosysems just by planting a swan plant. The wonder of metamorphosis is a miracle! www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/about-us/faqs/ #mbnzt #conservationweek2025 #conservationweek @docgovtnz
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Muehlenbeckia is a quick growing plant that supports many NZ Lepidoptera! If you're trimming it, plant those cuttings! #mbnzt #conservationweek2025 #conservationweek @docgovtnz
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
It's so good to see people utilising native nettles in their gardens and conservation projects. Not only is it teh host for our beautiful admiral species BUT there are TEN other native Lepidoptera species which rely on this plant to breed! #mbnzt #conservationweek2025 #conservationweek @docgovtnz
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
For butterfly-loving Kiwis, would you like to WIN this Conservation Week, things for your garden? Please COMMENT below, SHARE on your BlueSKy account, tell us what you are doing for Conservation Week. We'll all learn from what you're doing... and it will all be good for our beautiful biodiversity.
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Conservation Week in NZ begins tomorrow. Follow our social media to see what our wonderful volunteers have scheduled for YOU to take action for nature, for the good of our Lepidoptera. PS There's even incentives for those who share what they've been doing for our Lepidoptera! linktr.ee/mbnzt
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
✨ Mānawatia a Matariki! ✨🦋 Celebrate Matariki and reflect on the beauty and uniqueness of Aotearoa.🐛🦋 Just like the stars they guide us to value and care for small wonders around us. 🌿🌠 Protect what’s rare, cherish what’s ours! #Matariki2025 #NZButterflies #ConservationNZ #butterflies #moths
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
This is the beautiful chocolate royal, moderately rare now in Singapore. We can take many suggestions from what they're doing in Singapore to protect their butterflies, moths, and other pollinators to improve conditions for our own. Read more here: www.msn.com/en-us/lifest... #pollinators #mbnzt
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
It's National Primary Science Week! Check out our monarch tagging project and some other butterfly science projects as a way to engage kids in STEM learning! www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/tagg... From caterpillar to butterfly: youtu.be/SzGZHKaf5IE The floating butterfly: youtu.be/SzGZHKaf5IE
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Two more tagged monarchs were spotted on May 3 by Kathy Reid in Redwood Park, Christchurch! The first one (WAC413) was tagged by June on 13 February in Redwood, about 1.4 km. The other, (WAA715) was tagged on 4 March by Diane in Casebrook (1.9 km away). Both are males.
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
In the past MBNZT and our financial supporters ran a campaign to educate growers and garden centres that people wanted to buy caterpillar friendly swan plants untouched by pesticides. Become a financial member before April 30th and help support similar initiatives!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Just like you we’re seriously concerned about what’s happening to NZ’s monarch butterflies. This season we are tagging and keeping a record of where and when they’re seen again. We’d love to have you involved: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/tagging/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Spotted by a visitor on the Routeburn Track, this photo appeared in our free e-news. "It's an orange-underwing, Paranotoreas zopyra, a widespread montane to alpine day-flying geometrid (moth) of our South Island mountains" said Brian Patrick. Learn more here: inaturalist.ca/.../394448.....
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Last century everyone around the country knew the red admiral, kahukura, endemic to NZ. But recently it had disappeared from Auckland. That’s why our financial members have helped to bring it back! Learn more: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/red-admiral-project/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Butterfly gardens encourage children to ask questions and think critically about the world around them. Become a financial member by April 31st and help support our educational projects!!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Autumn Action! For only $40 a year you can make an important contribution to our conservation and educational projects, and receive our quarterly magazine! Join by April 31st to get the chance to be entered into our giveaway for financial members. Please join here: nzbutterflies.org.nz/members/join/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Earth day is approaching 🌏… 4 days left! Join us at Eco Fest on April 22 in Blockhouse Bay! We have face painting, seed bomb making, caterpillar pencils, and more for the whole family! Learn more about ways to earn prizes as well at this link: www.nz butterflies.org.nz/ecofest-2025-jacqui-knight/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
🦋How is Tam affecting our butterflies? 👉 mailchi.mp/nzbutterflie...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Similar to the monarch butterfly, the painted lady (Vanessa cardui) migrates huge distances from Africa to Europe each year, over numerous generations. You can read more about their amazing migration here: www.npr.org/sections/the... (Photo, thanks Wikipedia).
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
It's time for our Autumn Cuttings Sale! Please check out the information on the website and make your orders by following the instructions: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/product/cutt... #nzbutterflies #gardening #butterflygardening #monarchbutterflies
nzbutterflies.org.nz
Cuttings - Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
Here are the cuttings (and prices) which we can provide on a seasonal basis. Please sign up for our free e-news to be advised of dates available. PLEASE NOTE TH
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
We have once again teamed up with our friends at Kohab NZ to celebrate the launch of our brand new Kohab Branch - ideal for feeding your garden butterflies. Head over to our facebook page to get more details on how to enter and get the chance to win a prize pack valued at $75! Drawing on March 31!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Check out this report published today in The Guardian by Jaap De Roode, biologist at the US's Emory College of Arts and Sciences. A super interesting read about the ecology and evolution of parasites that attack the monarch butterfly: www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
Radio New Zealand (National Radio), Jim Mora, "Sunday Morning", 23 March 2025. Did you notice a lack of monarchs this past summer? Check out Jacqui's conversation with Jim Mora to learn more about the issue and see what you can do to help! 👉 www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... #monarch #monarchbutterfly
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Be a part of our tagging project!! If you have any photos of or with tagged monarchs please send them in to us. We love to see where our butterflies have gone! #taggingmonarchs #butterflymigration #nzbutterflies
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
A cocoon is a case, usually silken, produced in the larval stage of moths while a chrysalis is the hard, external case that a butterfly caterpillar forms after its final moult. Watch a monarch form a chrysalis here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLKi... #nationallearnaboutbutterfliesday #butterflylovers
youtube.com
Monarch forming chrysalis
YouTube video by Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
A butterfly’s head contains organs that allow the butterfly to sense what is around it and to feed. Butterflies can see forwards, backwards, above and below themselves all at the same time. They can also see ultraviolet light!! Learn more here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/product/onli...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
The second stage of a butterfly’s metamorphosis is called the “larval” stage – most people probably use the word “caterpillar”. Monarch caterpillars go through five stages of growth. Each stage is called an “instar”. As the caterpillar grows it increases in size about 2,000 times!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Monarchs usually lay an egg singly, under a “fresh” leaf at the top of the plant, before alighting on another milkweed (swan plant) leaf nearby and repeating the process. You will see her with her abdomen curved around and under the leaf. Learn more here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/product/onli...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Today is National Learn About Butterflies Day in the Northern hemisphere so we will be sharing information from our ‘Create Butterfly Course’ online. Follow along here, and if you like what you learn you can receive a complimentary packet of butterfly seeds for your garden by signing up today only!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
We'd love to get your input!! Which of these butterflies do you think is the most important to NZ and why?
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Another butterfly spotted! This was was released by our friends at Franklin Farm Waimauku last weekend... and it was seen "chilling out" on a plum tree in a Weymouth garden. If you haven't already, get involved in this exciting project here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/tagg... #nzbutterflies
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Another butterfly spotted! This was was released by our friends at Franklin Farm Waimauku last weekend... and it was seen "chilling out" on a plum tree in a Weymouth garden. If you haven't already, get involved in this exciting and innovative project here : www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/tagg...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Back in stock! This book was popular for many years but went out of print. Now it’s back! Check out our shop and buy a copy here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/.../george-g...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
1400 Monarch Butterflies were just released at the Auckland Botanic Gardens (thanks to Franklin Farms)!! Make sure to keep an eye out for them in the Auckland area!
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Asclepias curassavica, Tropical Milkweek, is a native milkweed from America. Monarchs will lay eggs on it – and it makes an attractive addition to the garden, very popular as a nectar source. Get it in two varieties: Gold or Scarlet. Purchase here: www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/product/seeds/
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Look where our butterflies have gone!! 🌏🦋 Some exciting updates as our first reports of tagged monarchs come in! Keep up to date with the tagging project here: nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/tagg...
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Very busy 🦋 times! Read the latest e-news from the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust: mailchi.mp/nzbutterflie...
mailchi.mp
Read the latest e-news from the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust!
We keep our members and non-members up to date with a weekly, free electronic news.
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mbnzt.bsky.social @mbnzt.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Want to create a butterfly-friendly garden? Don’t forget to plant host plants like milkweed and nettles! Discover more about building a butterfly habitat on our website or with our online course 👉 www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/habi... #ButterflyFriendlyGarden #HostPlants #CaterpillarHaven
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