Citizen science opportunities
Get involved in citizen science projects. Contribute data, share observations, and support real scientific research.
Sometimes scientists ask the public for help collecting—and even interpreting—data. Find out about active projects in the Faculty of Science and Engineering that you can be involved in.
Tracking diseases in New Zealand monarch butterflies
This project is run by Mariana Bulgarella and Dr Phil Lester from the School of Biological Sciences.
There are two main diseases that are sometimes seen here in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world—Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) and Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE).
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus is sometimes referred to as Black Death. Caterpillars with this infection turn black, oily, and slick before they die and then liquefy. If they pupate, the chrysalis might turn black, but you won’t see any wings. If the dead caterpillar's body is ruptured, it emits a foul odour.
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha causes adult butterflies to have crumpled and deformed wings. These adults are unable to fly and will typically fall to the ground after they emerge from their chrysalis. This disease is caused by a protozoan parasite—single-celled organisms that require a host in which to live and reproduce.
Many adult butterflies have lower levels of OE infection and appear normal. They have no crumpled wings. They emerge and fly but carry spores of the parasite that will infect the next generation of butterflies. Our 2020 citizen science study of OE prevalence across Aotearoa found that 59% of samples examined were infected with OE spores.
There are other diseases and predators of monarch butterflies, including wasps. However, NVP and OE are the most commonly observed diseases.
Help us by collecting caterpillars with signs of NPV
In 2025, we are interested in studying the rates of NPV infection and its genetics across Aotearoa. You can easily sample a diseased caterpillar by following these steps:
- Enclose the diseased caterpillar and the leaves or branches it is attached to inside a Zip Lock or Glad bag, or in a small plastic container that can be sealed. Cut the ends of the branches to make them fit in the bag and close the seal.
- Record the date, location of your sample, and any observations. Have you seen any more diseased butterflies? How many of your butterflies looked abnormal?
- Place the sample in an envelope addressed to: Mariana Bulgarella, Monarch Disease Survey, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140.
- Include your name and email address, so we can contact you and share the results of the study.
We will place the samples in a fridge until we isolate the viral DNA and study it. Not much is known about this deadly virus infecting Aotearoa’s butterflies.
If you raise butterflies, you’ll need to take some extra steps to get rid of NPV. The best way to kill the virus is to use a bleach solution to disinfect your plants, rearing containers, and any surfaces that came into contact with the diseased caterpillar.
See the web resources below for more detailed information.
Video and web resources
Information about NPV
Determining the sex of a monarch butterfly
Information on OE infection rates globally
Results of our 2020 citizen science project
- A citizen science project reveals contrasting latitudinal gradients of wing deformity and parasite infection of monarch butterflies in New Zealand—Royal Entomological Society
- Wing deformities in monarch butterflies in New Zealand: The role of a parasite and the climate—Frontiers for Young Minds
Other resources
There are also some great resources and information at the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust.