Entomologist Guest Speaker Inspires Carmel SAVE Group on the Importance of Native Insects
On Tuesday the 16th of June, the SAVE group was privileged to host entomologist Peter Stevens for an insightful session on conservation, with a special emphasis on the vital role that insects play in our ecosystem.
A highlight was learning that, while iconic species like the takahē and kiwi are well-known and protected in Aoteaora, the wētā punga is currently the only native insect on the protected list. Other insects such as the Red Admiral Butterfly and Native Bee species are not often prioritized by conservation authorities, so it is up to our individual efforts to protect them. Red Admirals depend solely on native ongaonga nettle, but recent eradication of this plant has decimated their numbers. Similarly, NZ Native Bees, our key pollinators, face population declines driven by climate change and our own human land-use changes.
It served as a powerful reminder that all our native species are taonga, and that even the smallest creatures are fundamental to the health of our local environment.
His response to the question “what can we do to help? Was “plant natives” By this, he meant to “plant every seed where it’s supposed to be”. Peter encouraged to not only plant roses and lilies in our gardens, but to plant manuka and harakeke native in order to contribute to our local species diversity and the overall environment in Aotearoa.
Overall, our SAVE club members were able to learn more about what an insect actually is, their vital role in pollination, soil formation, and the food chain, and find out more about New Zealand’s native insects. Along with some exhibitions of introduced predators– such as stoats, possums, and weasels– we were also shown how these species threaten the survival of native species, who have evolved without predatory mammals.
For more information and to help save supporting the conservation of the native red admiral butterfly click here
– Bernie Hoyo Gibson & Scarlett Lendrum (Year 12)
Help Restore Our Local Environment – SAVE Event this Sunday
Please bring gloves, suitable footwear, and a reusable water bottle.
If you are under 14 you will need to have a parent with you
Click on the link to find out more and get free tickets .The organisers like us to get tickets so they know how many are attending – for Health and Safety reasons.
