# Forest ringlet

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The **forest ringlet** (*Dodonidia helmsii*), also known as **Helms' butterfly**, or **te pēpepe pōuri** or **pepe pouri** in the [Māori language](/source/M%C4%81ori_language),[2][3] is a rare [butterfly](/source/Butterfly) of the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Nymphalidae](/source/Nymphalidae) [endemic](/source/Endemic_(ecology)) to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). It is the only species in the genus ***Dodonidia***.

## Taxonomy

The forest ringlet was first described by [Richard William Fereday](/source/Richard_William_Fereday) from a specimen collected in the [Paparoa Range](/source/Paparoa_Range) by a Mr R. Helms of [Greymouth](/source/Greymouth). Fereday gave it the [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) *helmsi*, but would not speculate as to its genus.[4] The species was properly named in 1884 by [Arthur Gardiner Butler](/source/Arthur_Gardiner_Butler), who coined the genus *Dodonidia*, from its resemblance to the Asian [*Dodona*](/source/Dodona_(genus)) butterflies, and corrected the spelling of the species name to *D. Helmsii* (now *D. helmsii*).[5]

Because it was named after Helms, it is properly known as "Helms' butterfly", although this is often misspelled as "Helm's butterfly". The name "forest ringlet" is more commonly used.

## Ecology

The forest ringlet caterpillar is nocturnal and feeds on "cutty grass" (*[Gahnia](/source/Gahnia)*) and bush snowgrass (*[Chionochloa](/source/Chionochloa)*) from spring to early autumn. Adults live for three or four weeks and are fast-flying, found in January and February in clearings or near forest edges, mainly in beech (*[Nothofagus](/source/Nothofagus)*) forest north of about [Lewis Pass](/source/Lewis_Pass).[6]

## Predators, parasites and diseases

The cocoon and larvae of *D. helmsii* are parasitised by the wasp *Meteorus pulchricornis*.[7]

## Conservation

*Dodonidia helmsii* was once widespread in New Zealand, including the Wellington and Auckland area, but has become significantly rarer over the last 50 years.[6] There are two causes: the increasing rarity in lowland areas of the sedges that are its food plant, and the introduction of predatory [wasps](/source/Wasp) to New Zealand that prey on its [larvae](/source/Larva).[8] Forest ringlets have disappeared from forest below 400 m altitude, but are still found at 600 m or higher, the altitudinal limit for the [German](/source/Vespula_germanica) and [common wasps](/source/Vespula_vulgaris).[9] This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Relict" conservation status under the [New Zealand Threat Classification System](/source/New_Zealand_Threat_Classification_System).[10]

## See also

- [Butterflies of New Zealand](/source/Butterflies_of_New_Zealand)

## References

1. Savela, Markku. ["*Dodonidia helmsii* Butler, 1884"](http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/satyrinae/dodonidia/#helmsii). *Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms*. Retrieved February 28, 2018.

1. Wheeler, Jenny (29 August 2022). ["Forest Ringlet Connections"](https://www.nzbutterflies.org.nz/forest-ringlet-connections/) (in en-NZ). *Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust*. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

1. ["NZTCS"](https://nztcs.org.nz/nztcs-species/12133). *nztcs.org.nz*. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

1. Fereday, R. W. (1883). ["Description of a Species of Butterfly new to New Zealand and probably to Science"](https://archive.org/stream/transactionspro151882newz#page/194/mode/1up). *Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*. **15**: 193–195.

1. Butler, Arthur G. (1884). ["On a new Genus of Butterfly from New Zealand"](https://archive.org/stream/annalsmagazineof5131884lond#page/171/mode/1up). *The Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology*. **13**: 171–173. 5.

1. Crowe, Andrew (2002). *Which New Zealand Insect?*. Auckland: Penguin. p. 14. ISBN 0-14-100636-6.

1. Wikidata item [Q139969580](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139969580)

1. ["Forest ringlet butterfly (*Dodonidia helmsii*)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190223051241/http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/local-butterflies-moths/butterfly-forest-ringlet-dodonidia-helmsii.html). *T.E.R:R.A.I.N. – Taranaki Educational Resource: Research Analysis and Education Network*. 5 February 2018. Archived from [the original](http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/local-butterflies-moths/butterfly-forest-ringlet-dodonidia-helmsii.html) on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. Hansford, Dave (Jan–Feb 2009). ["Ghosts of Summer"](https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/ghosts-of-summer/). *New Zealand Geographic*. '***(95)***

1. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). ["Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015"](http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/nztcs20entire.pdf). *New Zealand Threat Classification Series*. **20**: 7.

## External links

- The forest ringlet discussed on RNZ *Critter of the Week*, [23 September 2016](http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201817333/critter-of-the-week-the-forest-ringlet-butterfly)
- [Forest Ringlet Butterfly Project](https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/forestringletbutterfly), fundraising for research into *D. helmsii* decline

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Forest ringlet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_ringlet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_ringlet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.