Endemic to the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, this habitat specialist has a restricted range (EOO 1 181 km<sup>2</sup>) and is known from only six subpopulations. Although no major or potential threats to this restricted-range species are known or predicted over the next decade, few colonies have been found to date. The species therefore is not common, and further survey work is required to establish its true distribution range as much suitable habitat is available both within and just outside of its currently known range. The taxon qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Least Concern and is nationally classified as Rare (Restricted Range and Habitat Specialist). For the 2012 assessment the future potential threats used to assess it as Near Threatened D2 were over-emphasised. Therefore the Red Listing was applied incorrectly previously. The assessment should have been Least Concern then too, thus the change in status from Near Threatened to Least Concern is non-genuine.
Distribution
Endemic to KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, occurring in the central and southern regions of the Drakensberg and nearby mountains. In the west, it occurs in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, from the Lotheni Nature Reserve section in the north to the Garden Castle State Forest section in the south. To the east, the species has been recorded from Marwaqa Nature Reserve on Bulwer Mountain and from Clairmont Nature Reserve on the neighbouring Clairmont Mountain.
There are no current threats. Global climate change is not expected to greatly affect the climate in the distribution range of this species in the next decade at least.
Uses and trade
This species is subject to limited removal of specimens from the wild for research purposes.
Conservation
Surveys for additional colonies should be carried out, and research on the life history and ecology of the species is required.
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,]
