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Story: Evolution of plants and animals

Monarch butterflies

Monarch butterflies

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was first recorded in New Zealand in 1873, having island-hopped its way across the Pacific Ocean from North America. Most insects are thought to have come from the opposite direction, borne on strong westerly winds from Australia. Over millions of years many winged insect species must have been blown across to New Zealand.

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How to cite this page

Matt McGlone, Evolution of plants and animals – How did they arrive?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12431/monarch-butterflies (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Matt McGlone, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Susan Oliver
15 February 2023
Hello I have an interest in monarch butterflies. I note it is suggested that monarchs made their own way to NZ. While I can see that it would be possible for them to arrive via wind it does not seem as likely to me as the alternative (transported via humans when immigrating to NZ) given that the monarch caterpillars can only survive on swan plants and these would not have been in NZ unless transported here by humans. It seems a far more likely explanation that swan plants with eggs on were transported by immigrants. I would appreciate your opinion.