A match made by modern technology
It’s a very common story according to Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust founder Jacqui Knight — some people will be looking for monarch butterfly caterpillars to get stuck into their swan plants, and others will be looking for swan plants to keep their caterpillars alive.
The problem had been keeping MBNZT volunteers busy for years, Jacqui said, trying to find people in different communities to “match up” caterpillars to swan plants, but this year the monarchs had their very own matchmaking agency.
“There are always pockets around the country where there are healthy swan plants that female monarchs haven’t found,” she said. “And there are other people who find their swan plants are stripped by hungry caterpillars. Now, thanks to web-based technology, there’s a site where people can list their details and hopefully be introduced to someone who can come to their aid.”
The site had only just been created, but already people from all corners of the country were networking to lift monarch numbers before the end of summer.
“As well as other predators, over recent years we’ve seen a huge increase in the numbers of paper wasps. Many people now raise their caterpillars under cover to protect them,” Jacqui added, “so it can be disappointing if you run out of food, or you have plenty of food and no monarchs laying.”
She was convinced that something was affecting monarch numbers.
“I’ve been raising monarchs since I was a child, and you get used to the natural swings of nature, the booms and the busts. But this is something else again.
“I’m liaising with scientists who know more than me, and hope to be able to figure out what is happening.”
The matchmaking programme can be found at www.facebook.com/Monarchand-Milkweed-Matchmaking934201763370682, and the MBNZT page (www.monarch.org.nz/forum/topic/ matchmaking-for-monarchs/).