Madam Butterfly

Magnificent Madam Butterfly

On Thursday 17th of May Jacqui Knight (the butterfly lady who drove all the way from Russell) came to Waihi East School to share her information about all the different types and kinds of butterflies such as the Red Admiral and the Monarch – or kahuku which is the Maori name for it, which means ‘colourful coat’.
She encouraged us to help the environment so the butterflies can live peacefully. There are many amazing facts that I have learnt from Madam Butterfly who has been trying to help butterflies for 40 years now, especially Monarch Butterflies. We were told that the moth and butterflies are family, but one of the differences between them are that a moth makes cocoons and that butterflies make chrysalis. There are less than 100 butterflies in NZ and there are about 20,000 different species of butterflies all around the world. Madam Butterfly has travelled all over NZ teaching children, and says she loves her job.

By Josephine Mueggenburg
10 years Rm 2 Waihi East School

Marvelous Madam Butterfly

Today Thursday 17th of May, Waihi East School had a visit by Jacqui Knight, known as madam Butterfly. She’s been studying butterflies for forty years and she has travelled all around NZ. She drove down from Russell to give us a few tips about Monarch butterflies.
She became Madam butterfly because of her passion for nature. She’s travelled to 50 schools in NZ and she says she loves doing her special presentations but only with a good audience!
She taught us about the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly.
The Maori name for Monarch butterflies is Kahuku. Monarch butterflies are in the Danaidae (milkweed butterfly family).
There are about 20,000 butterflies in the world?
The difference between female Monarchs and male Monarchs is females have wide black veins on their wings and males have thin ones. One other difference is male Monarchs have two black dots on their wings.
Butterflies’ antenna hear, smell and sense all at a time! Now we all know butterflies have terrible eye sight don’t we! Butterflies don’t have hands like humans so they have a tongue called a proboscis that they use to suck up nectar. It sounds a bit odd but Monarch butterflies taste with their feet!
Did you know that butterflies are related to moths but they’re really different because moths have feathery antenna and they form into cocoons when butterflies have sleak antenna and form into a chrysalis.
When butterflies emerge from their chrysalis on a warm sunny day before they can flutter away they have to let their wings dry!
I hope Madam Butterfly enjoyed her visit, I know we did!!!

By Abbey 10years
Waihi East School