Many NZ butterflies exist nowhere else in the world and yet they have still not been accurately identified. If they become extinct, we will never be able to re-introduce them. That’s prompted the MBNZT to undertake a DNA science research journey to reliably discover each individual species.
Most people seem to think there are only two butterflies in NZ: the monarch and the cabbage white… but that’s not so. There could be more than 50 species. Some are already on the endangered list. The Butterfly Discovery Project will start by investigating NZ’s largest group of butterflies, the copper butterflies (Lycaena species). Currently four species have been identified, when in fact there could be more than 20!
The three photographs top right are all classified as L. salustius or common copper - but notice how different they are.
Sadly, the scientific funding model in NZ does not support this type of work so we must raise money through crowd funding, just to be able to identify and name our important fauna. We are fortunate that Dr George Gibbs has pledged a donation of $50,000 as seed money in memory of his renowned entomologist grandfather GV Hudson.
Through our fundraising to date we are well on the way to get the $130,000 needed to get this project started. Your additional help will be invaluable, and will support other applications for funding. Even a $5 donation will help. You can also help by telling your friends and family and sharing about the project through our Facebook page. Spread the word to help your local copper butterflies become discovered, so that they too can be included in NZ’s conservation strategy before they become extinct.
Taxonomy is a very important and critical science: discovering, classifying and naming organisms so that we can better understand them and restore their habitats. Sir David Attenborough knows it, and as Ruud Kleinpaste says, “if we can’t identify them, how can we save them from extinction?”
Every New Zealander has the right to know how special our species are… and we want to engage the right PhD student to do the research, using DNA and other scientific techniques, to identify them accurately. We could discover some treasures.
More information:
- Order our beautiful 2023 calendar featuring our copper butterflies
- Interview with Karyn Hay on Radio New Zealand
- Nicholas Boyak's article in the Sunday Star Times (Stuff)
- Issue 42 BUTTERFLIES Spring 2022 'Counting Coppers'
- Issue 41 BUTTERFLIES Winter 2022 'Why Givealittle?'
- Issue 39 BUTTERFLIES Summer 2021-22 'Copper Conundrum'
- Issue 38 BUTTERFLIES Spring 2021, 'Counting our Coppers'
- Forest and Bird Magazine, 385, Spring 2022
- Entomological Society of NZ newsletter August 2022
- Royal Society's 'Discovering Biodiversity'
