The Transoceanic Migration of Lepidoptera to New Zealand — A History and a Hypothesis on Colonisation

'This paper surveys the known historical records of foreign butterflies and moths in New Zealand appearing in the literature between 1855 and 1967. Then detailed observations made bet~veen 1968 and 1976 are discussed, uith particular reference to the fact that many of these mizrant species have been able to breed in New Zealand for varying periods of time. Finall! the flights across the 1 asman Sea are discussed, mith reference to both the prex ailing. 11 eather patterns at the time and to the significance of these migrant insects in the colonisation of New Zealand. RECORDS FROM THE LITER ITURE