Kia ora
This morning I saw two recently-emerged painted lady butterflies on the Tip Track (off Happy Valley Rd, Owhiro Bay). Both were on wild mustard flowers, about 200 m below the stockyards.
Ngā mihi
Colin
Painted lady butterflies, Wellington
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- Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Painted lady butterflies, Wellington
Cool. I've only seen one, years ago. When you say recently-emerged, do you suspect locally in NZ? My limited understanding is that they might breed in the summer but they don't overwinter here.
Ngā mihi
Neil
Ngā mihi
Neil
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Re: Painted lady butterflies, Wellington
Kia ora Neil
They both looked pristine. Given that I saw two within 100 m, I suspect that they were locally-bred and had recently emerged. I don't know if they can overwinter inside a chrysalis, but that would be my guess.
Ngā mihi
Colin
They both looked pristine. Given that I saw two within 100 m, I suspect that they were locally-bred and had recently emerged. I don't know if they can overwinter inside a chrysalis, but that would be my guess.
Ngā mihi
Colin
- Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Painted lady butterflies, Wellington
Interesting. Perhaps climate change has us on the edge of seeing a new butterfly established here.
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Re: Painted lady butterflies, Wellington
I saw one in good condition on the coast in Island Bay also feeding on a flowering mustard plant a few years ago.
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