Sep 18, 2014 - The Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) is one of the two species of butterfly endemic to Hawaii. Females lay eggs on these plants and caterpillars feed on their leaves before pupating and transforming into butterflies. V. cardui is similar to V. virginiensis, but all of its spots on the upper surface of the hindwing lack blue centers, and its blue eyespots on the underside of the hindwing are smaller. thistles), so their host plants do not overlap with those of the Kamehameha butterfly. The Hawaiian Butterfly is widely found across the island of Hawaii. To attract the Kamehameha butterfly to your yard, plant māmaki and encourage your neighbors to do the same. It is one of the two butterfly species of the island, with the other one being the Hawaiian Blue Butterfly. The most common host plant is māmaki (Pipturus albidus), though the larvae will also feed on olonā (Touchardia latifolia) and ōpuhe (Urera glabra). Tantalus on Oʻahu), and it appears to be declining. The Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) is one of the two species of butterfly endemic to Hawaii, the other is Udara blackburni. The life cycle of Kamehameha butterflies are tied to mamaki (Pipturus albidus) and other native Urticaceae (Touchardia, Urera, etc.). Kamehameha butterfly caterpillars are found only on the Hawaiian species of the nettle family (Urticaceae), located in shady areas or gulches with native vegetation and moderate to heavy rainfall. Click here to view photos of the Kamehameha butterfly and its immature stages. Mamaki is the most easily cultivated host plant for the Kamehameha butterfly, and is available in garden … However, the Kamehameha butterfly is endemic to Hawaii, and evolved here after a butterfly somehow dispersed across the ocean and colonized the islands. The caterpillars of V. cardui feed on weeds in the family Asteraceae (e.g. A māmaki leaf showing prominent red veins. (Courtesy photo) For propagation tips, click here. Other host plants for Kamehameha caterpillars are also natives in the plant family Urticaceae (nettle relatives), including olonā (Touchardia latifolia), ōpuhe (Urera spp. A single plant can support ten caterpillars, but according to Haines, it’s more about establishing a critical mass of māmaki across the landscape. thistles), so their host plants do not overlap with those of the Kamehameha butterfly. List of Butterfly Garden Flowers & Plants for Hawaii Hawaii This butterfly garden resource provides a complete list of butterflies found in Hawaii, along with their preferred nectar flowers and the host plants they look for to lay eggs that the butterfly caterpillars can feed on.