Monitoring of Native Moths

Over the past two weeks the Year 6 Science and Enviro Leaders have been helping out with research into native beneficial moths.

Moths are a key part of the wider ecosystem and are important pollinators. Around 2000 native moths have been identified in New Zealand and 86% of these are endemic. That means they live no where else in the world but here.
The MothNet project that Wanaka Primary School pupils have been involved in has helped to collect specimens for scientists to identify. Comparing moth numbers and types from different locations helps scientists to keep a check on moth populations and detect any changes over time or between places.
Here at school the pupils set up Heath Moth traps with light sensors in the native garden area behind Pod 4 and by the Dental Clinic. The moths were collected over 2 consecutive days and the pupils examined and counted them. These results were compared to moths collected at Kidds Bush over the same period of time. The pupils noticed there was a much higher number and wider variety of moths collected from the native bush site (Kidds Bush) compared to the urban environment (at school). We think this may be due to the fact that native bush is a safer habitat for the moths and that there is less light pollution. The pupils also placed tracking tunnels with ink pads next to each moth trap. This was to identify which pests may be around that may predate on moths. At the school sites we identified mouse and hedgehog tracks. At Kidds Bush we identified mouse tracks and possibly possum tracks.

To learn more about this project visit the MothNet Facebook site MothNet or the MothNet webpage Land Care Research.

Thanks so much to Jack Wyeth (Pod 7) and Bryne Bloxham (Pod 6) for their leadership in this project and to Rebecca Picard (Bryne's mum) for helping with the monitoring. Thanks also to Phil Pendlebury (Evie's dad) who tested out all the electrical equipment and provided technical support.

Here are some photos of the children in action:

Collecting moths from the native garden site.

The site by the Dental Clinic

Counting and sorting moths

Collecting moths from Kidds Bush

Checking the tracking tunnels

The Heath Moth trap

Some of the moths collected from Kidds Bush.

Here is what Bryne wrote about being involved with MothNet: