• Find an open place of any size. You need maximum sun, shelter, and an area which will not need intensive management.
• No pesticides allowed!
• Plant (or maintain) shelter on the SW side (or wherever the prevailing wind is coming from) but never on the northern side which might block the sun.
• Shelter trees such as Olearia spp, Houhere, Coprosma spp, Hebe/Veronica spp, Muehlenbeckia complexa (scrambling pohuehue) will protect the habitat. These might be used for overwintering, as host plants or as a nectar source.
• Shrubs such as Pimelea spp, Mahoe, Brachyglottis spp, Pseudopanax spp, and Helichrysum spp. support useful NZ moth species as well as other native insects.
• Plant Urtica ferox (Ongaonga) in places where the plants are generally inaccessible to humans and pets (to deter people from being stung), such as away from paths. This is the host plant for the red admiral butterfly.
• Plant Carmichaelia spp. and Tagasaste/tree lucerne (hosts for blue butterflies) as well as Pittosporum, Gahnia and Astelia, hosts for many moth species.
• Plant Muehlenbeckia spp. around the U. ferox to provide food for the copper butterflies as it can act as a barrier as well.
• Plant single (open face) dahlias and mature swan plants (at least six months old) if you are in a frost-free area or after the last frost on the sunny side of the "barrier". Add masses of annuals such as swan plants, tropical milkweed, cosmos, zinnias and Tithonia speciosa ‘Goldfinger’ on the sunniest side.
• Plant Muehlenbeckia axillaris (mat pohuehue) around stony ground and leave bare patches – talk to the MBNZT about a translocation of boulder coppers from a nearby location.
• Plant prostrate broom (Carmichaelia appressa) plus clover around the edges of paths. Also encourage medicago and lotus, generally seen as weeds. All these plants make excellent habitat for the blue butterflies.
• In nearby garden beds include annual dahlias, tropical milkweed, cosmos and zinnias and any other flowering plants you see pollinators visiting.
• Look for other plants locally where butterflies and moths are found. They could be added to your habitat. If buying plants, choose older varieties and not the new hybrids.
• Share details of what you’ve planted and why with visitors to your habitat and the MBNZT. We will be happy to spread the word.
• Enjoy!
