Forest ringlet, Dodonidia helmsii

[bra...@gmail.com]

I was looking through photos of NZ's forest ringlet on iNaturalist and thought I'd bring our project to your attention.

The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust (formerly the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust) is working to save the forest ringlet, with the assistance of a funding grant from the Department of Internal Affairs. 

Dodonidia helmsii is not only an endemic species but the only species in its genus. As you'll see from photos like this:

https://inaturalist.nz/photos/1181566

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/9011774

it is very beautiful. In the Conservation Status of NZ Butterflies and Moths, 2015, it is listed as 'At Risk Relict' having undergone a documented decline and now occupying less than 10% of its former range: clearings near forest edges, mainly in beech forest north of Lewis Pass. From Stage 1 of the Trust's project we have learned that there are colonies in the Coromandel forests, and on Little Barrier Island/Te Hauturu-o-Toi. Host plants are Gahnia species and Chionochloa sedges.

 

In order to raise awareness of the species the Trust has A3 posters which it is asking interested people to put on display in public areas such as information centres, outdoor goods retailers etc. Feel free to download them from our website:

https://www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/projects/forest-ringlet-project/
 

If you're planting habitat for birds, don't forget that birds love caterpillars so a really good reason to plant host plants of butterflies. And if you're interested in butterflies and moths you'll find lots of information in the Trust's free e-newsletter. www.monarch.org.nz/join

Cheers

Jacqui Knight

Secretary