#pulelehua

[cosmos2026]

✨Sparkling Bag🦋💎✨

[soil-is-alive]

Meet the Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) aka Pulelehua

It is one of Hawaiʻi's most treasured native pollinators. With its fuzzy body, it might look like a moth, but don’t be fooled—this beauty is a butterfly! 🦋

So how do you tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly? ✨️

Day ⛅️ vs. Night 🌙:

Butterflies, like the Kamehameha butterfly, are diurnal (active during the day), while moths are mostly nocturnal.

Other Clues:

Butterflies usually have slender, club-tipped antennae, while moths tend to have feathery or threadlike ones.

🦋 Kamehameha butterflies play an important role in Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, helping native plants thrive by transferring pollen. Unfortunately, their populations are declining due to habitat loss and invasive species. You can help by planting native plants like māmaki, a host plant for their caterpillars. 🐛

Fun Fact! 🌿

Butterflies and moths taste with their feet! This helps them ‘sample’ plants to find the perfect spot to lay eggs or gather nectar.

What do you think? Have you seen the Kamehameha butterfly in the wild? Share your thoughts below! 🌟

[tkreiko]

Welcome Little One 9118 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: On the birding trail in Volcano I was welcomed by a beautiful creature that stopped for a portrait in the morning sun. This is a Kamehameha butterfly. Their Hawaiian name is pulelehua. It is the State insect of of Hawaii and so perfectly appropriate that I should be photographing it too. Perhaps it knew and wanted to get in on the party? The insect was introduced as the State insect in 2009 by 5th grade students. Good work kids! #ILoveNature #ILoveWildlife #Wildlife in #Hawaii #Nature on the #HawaiianIslands #Butterflies #Insects #Kamehameha #StateInsectofHawaii

[loubrication]

#inktober day 9. Hawaiian word of the moment "Pulelehua" (butterfly). #Sketchoholic #brushpen #ink #butterfly #pulelehua #Inktober2017

[serenity1673]

The first exposed volcanic rock for the shower floor! You can see the way the lava flowed if you look closely! #pulelehua #steveandstephenstinyhouseadventure #hilo #projectoutdoorshower

[serenity1673]

The beginnings of our first project! We cleared an area of flora and now we're digging about an inch down in the soil to the volcanic rock underneath. The volcanic rock will be the floor of the shower! To the right and further up we will be building a bathroom. All of the soil will be reused for compost or the raised garden beds we will also be building! #projectoutdoorshower #hilo #steveandstephenstinyhouseadventure #pulelehua

[serenity1673]

Amazing new home in #hilo I sent this to my family, hence the commentary #steveandstephenstinyhouseadventure #pulelehua (at Hawaiian Acres, Hawaii)

[serenity1673]

Our first walk to town! 4 hour round trip walk but totally worth it! #hilo #steveandstephenstinyhouseadventure #pulelehua