Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
Introduction
In November 2016, the great white butterfly was determined to be successfully eradicated and is no longer in New Zealand.The great white butterfly posed a threat to brassica crops and native cresses. It is an unwanted organism in New Zealand under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
DOC led a multi-agency programme over more than three years to eradicate the pest butterfly from Nelson Tasman where it was only known to be found. It was the first eradication of an unwanted butterfly population in the world.
A watch is still needed for this pest in case it turns up again in New Zealand. Report any suspected sightings to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Exotic Pests and Diseases Hotline 0800 80 99 66.
Description
- Find descriptions and photos of the great white butterfly, its eggs, caterpillars, and pupae.
- Guide to plants favoured by great white butterflies
Why it's a pest
The great white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) is a significant pest of brassica crops in numerous countries across Europe and western Asia. In some countries, it is called the large white butterfly.
Its caterpillars feed voraciously in groups, rapidly reducing host plants to a skeleton.
The butterfly can fly long distances – sometimes hundreds of kilometres – so can become widespread.
Our work
The great white butterfly was first found in Nelson in 2010. It’s likely it arrived as pupae on goods shipped into the city’s port.
There was concern at the threat it posed to:
- endangered native cresses - New Zealand has around 79 native cress species - 57 of these at risk of extinction
- commercial brassica vegetable crops and farm brassica crops grown to feed dairy herds and sheep.
In 2012 DOC launched a programme to eradicate the butterfly (with MPI, Horticulture New Zealand, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research).
Great white butterfly infestations were removed from gardens in the area, and the Nelson Tasman community played a vital role, monitoring their own gardens and reporting finds.
The intensive eradication effort was declared a success in November 2016 a following scientific assessment by DOC and MPI – the great white butterfly was declared to be no longer in New Zealand.
You can help
The great white butterfly is currently not known to be in New Zealand but a watch is still needed should it be found here again. Keep an eye out for the great white butterfly in your garden.
The great white butterfly is most easily identified by its conspicuous caterpillars feeding in groups on its favoured plants and by its clusters of eggs.
If you see any suspected great white butterfly caterpillars and eggs, report it to the MPI hotline 0800 80 99 66.