Insect
New Zealand Red Admiral
Vanessa gonerillaAlso known as Kahukura
New Zealand red admirals are spirited flyers known for sunbathing with outstretched wings on warm stones, logs, and forest clearings. Known in Māori as kahukura, meaning 'red cloak', adults often overwinter in sheltered hollows or rock crevices to emerge on warm winter days. Females seek out native nettles, especially the fierce tree nettle ongaonga, rolling single leaves with silk to shelter their developing spiny caterpillars.
EndemicPollinatorDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFloral nectar, Tree sap, Fermented fruit juice
Predators
- German wasp
- New Zealand fantail
- Orb-weaver spiders
ThreatsIntroduced parasitoid wasps and loss of native nettle host plants
HabitatsNative forest edges, shrublands, tussock grasslands, and gardens
Life spanUp to 6–9 months as overwintering adults
Classification
- FamilyNymphalidae
- SpeciesVanessa gonerilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Patience: Approach slowly on bright sunny mornings when adults bask with wings wide open.
- Planting: Cultivate native nettles and nectar-rich blossoms to attract adults to home gardens.
Same Genus (c) Tony Wills, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Wills · cc-by-sa
Same Genus no rights reserved, uploaded by Joan C. Hinojosa · cc0
Image unavailableHost Plant 
Close Relative (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
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