The conservation status of New Zealand Lepidoptera

Abstract

The conservation status of New Zealand Lepidoptera is revised. Forty-nine taxa are Threatened; consisting of 13 that are Nationally Critical, 9 that are Nationally Endangered and 27 that are Nationally Vulnerable taxa. Another 69 taxa are At Risk (16 Declining, 19 Relict and 34 Naturally Uncommon) and 56 taxa are classified as Data Deficient. No New Zealand Lepidoptera can confidently be considered Extinct. Among the Threatened taxa, 16 are known in shrublands, 13 are in dynamic coastal margins and 13 are in a range of other non-forest habitats. No Threatened moths are known from offshore islands and only one is alpine. Over half of all Threatened taxa are confined to the eastern South Island of New Zealand. Continued engagement with amateur entomologists is essential to the future conservation of Lepidoptera.

Keywords:

• Geometridae
• Notoreas
• Oecophoridae
• threat status
• threatened species

Acknowledgements

We thank George Gibbs for providing information on some Micropterigidae and Mnesarchaeidae. This research was supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Defining New Zealand's Land Biota programme.