Kia ora, ko Greer tōku ingoa.
For my PhD at Otago University I am researching admiral butterflies in NZ: kahukura (NZ red admiral), Rēkohu kahukura subspecies (Chatham Island red admiral), and kahukōwhai (yellow admiral).
I’ve been gathering parasitisation data in Ōtepoti (Dunedin) and the result from last year was concerning, with a 94.4% (68/72) wasp parasitisation rate of chrysalises!
Parasitisation data across the country would be so valuable. Can you help me with this project?
The aim is to create a map of parasitisation rates across different nettle species and nationwide. This data is important for conservation and funding for research in the future to focus on developing ways to get rid of the introduced wasps that attack our beautiful native butterflies. None of these wasps can hurt people so it’s also a fun activity and important citizen science project.
