Search for a rare butterfly begins

The native Forest Ringlet butterfly, now the subject of a nationwide search.

A nationwide search has begun for the endangered native Forest Ringlet butterfly, so named for the distinctive target-like rings, or 'eyes', on its wings.

The species is believed to be facing a bleak future, although there was some good news from the Far North in October when the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust received reports of sightings in the Puketi Forest area and near Kaikohe.

The endemic butterfly (Dodonidia Helmsii) is regarded as on the brink of extinction, its decline prompting much debate and speculation among expert entomologists.

It was a common sight throughout New Zealand in the 1970s, the decline in numbers first being observed around Auckland and Wellington in the 1990s.

"The Forest Ringlet is perhaps the most distinctive endemic butterfly, placed in its own endemic genus, and this, as well as its size and beauty, make it one of New Zealand's iconic invertebrate species," invertebrate specialist Robert Hoare (Landcare Research) said in October.

Now the moths and butterflies trust is looking to senior conservation officer Steve Wheatley, from Sir David Attenborough's Butterfly Conservation in the UK, to advise how best to protect it, launching a long-term project beginning with a nationwide search.

Mr Wheatley will travel throughout the country, gathering records of known locations and sightings past and present.

Lottery Environment and Heritage is helping fund the project, directed by Dr Peter Maddison, the former president of Forest & Bird and the scientist who first identified painted apple moth in Auckland in 1999, an invasive species that has now been eradicated.

" ... it is thought that vespulid wasps were likely to be involved [in the Forest Ringlet's decline], but without knowing specifically what is happening we cannot address the cause," he said.

The distinctive orange, black, white and yellow butterfly was once widespread in forests throughout New Zealand but has now declined to a few remote areas.

The species is only found in this country, and has no close relatives.

Trust secretary Jacqui Knight said all New Zealanders could help in the search by contacting the trust if they spotted one.

"At the outset we have to know where we are, or where the butterfly can be found now or has been seen in the past," she said.

The butterfly lives in forest glades, from near sea level to the treeline, and are usually seen in late summer.

They tend to fly high in the forest canopy. Females can also be seen on or near sedges, rush-like plants, where they lay their eggs.

Ms Knight added that the project was a big step for the trust, which was formed 10 years ago as the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust, little time or resources generally being available for the conservation of native invertebrates.