Abstract
The presence of overwintering swarms of the monarch butterfly in New Zealand at Northland, Hawkes Bay and Nelson is recorded. The Nelson swarm is described and the factors influencing its formation and location discussed. The parasites and predators of the butterfly in New Zealand are mentioned. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus (L.) ) has been present in New Zealand, occasionally quite commonly, since about 1840 (Thompson 1922; Hudson 1928, 1939). It is generally considered to have arrived here without any human aid except for the introduction of its larval food plants, none of which is indigenous. The availability of these, Asclepias fruticosa L., A. curassavica L., A. tuberosa L., Arauja sericofera Brot., and Oxypetalum caeruleum Decne (Wise 1963, Ramsay 1964), undoubtedly influence its distribution and numbers. In North America during autumn, monarchs move southwards from their summer breeding grounds in southern Canada and northern United States of America. They form swarms on the way
Published Version
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