How a Waimauku farm is tackling pests to protect butterflies

As part of a growing movement to protect Aotearoa’s butterflies, one West Auckland farm has taken conservation into its own hands, by breeding Monarch butterflies and battling rats at the same time.

Franklin Farm in Waimauku has been in Jasmine Franklin’s family for over 120 years, but these days it’s known not just for its flower picking and friendly farmyard, but for its butterfly house. What started as a response to the sharp decline in Monarch sightings has become a full-fledged breeding programme, releasing hundreds of butterflies to kindergartens, rest homes and the Auckland Botanic Gardens - sometimes even 1,400 at once.

But Monarchs are vulnerable, especially to rats and wasps. “A rat in the butterfly house could be catastrophic,” says Jasmine. “They’ll eat the chrysalis and can wipe out thousands of future butterflies in one go.” With toxins off the table, especially after the loss of their family dog to suspected poisoning, Franklin Farm turned to Goodnature’s automatic, toxin-free A24 traps.

Now, with 15 Bluetooth-connected traps placed around the farm, they can track rat activity and shift their efforts as needed, protecting not only Monarchs, but also Red and Yellow Admirals. They’ve become educators too, teaching visitors about how safe pest control plays a vital role in keeping butterfly populations alive.

Want to help too?

Plant swan plants, reduce toxins in your backyard, protect what matters with around-the-clock trapping and if you spot a butterfly this week, log it!

Join the Big Butterfly Count (9–20 Feb)

Run by the Moths & Butterflies of NZ Trust, this annual citizen science initiative encourages Kiwis to log their butterfly sightings and help build data to support these fragile species.

More info: nzbutterflies.org.nz/project/big-butterfly-count