Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
Assessors: Kevin Cockburn
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

An endemic restricted to a small area along the coast in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces in South Africa (EOO 1 426 km<sup>2</sup>), known from six severely fragmented subpopulations. The taxon has very specific habitat requirements - the habitat consists of scattered outcrops of rocks in grassland, where the rocks provide a substrate for the larval food (lichen) and the grasses growing amongst the rocks provide shelter for both the larval and pupal stages. Despite some subpopulations occurring within protected areas, the population is moderately fragmented with reduced chance of movement between subpopulations due to severe habitat transformation barriers and lack of movement corridors. There are seven locations. Land claims and threats of land invasion at Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve are potential future threats to the subpopulation occurring there. High human population growth and associated development and habitat loss in the KwaZulu-Natal part of the range is a threat, with a planned pipeline an immediate threat to one of the colonies in a relatively pristine grassland. The number of subpopulations, and thus the AOO is probably declining. In the southern part of the range a major road corridor with its associated ribbon development is underway, and large scale mining is being planned south of the KwaZulu-Natal/Eastern Cape border. Injudicious fire use for fodder production in the southern part of the range remains a constant threat to colonies of the taxon. Habitat loss is inevitably leading to a decline in the EOO and a fall in the number of mature individuals. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Vulnerable under criterion B.

Distribution

Endemic to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces in South Africa, occurring on the coastal belt from Lusikisiki in the south to near Scottburgh in the north.

Decline

Rapid urbanisation and habitat destruction for crop farming in the central part of the range is threatening some of the subpopulations. Inappropriate veld management and injudicious use of fire (the practice of year-round burning to stimulate grazing) threaten habitat and possibly subpopulations directly.

Population trend

Trend

The adult population probably comprises fewer than 3 000 specimens per year, based on a daily count of about 60 specimens per site, flying for a period of three to four weeks, and with a population turnover of about five days in eight colonies.

Threats

Fragmentation and degradation of suitable habitat continues due to urban and agricultural development, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal part of the range. Habitat modification is due to reduction of fire or injudicious burning, and the encroachment of alien vegetation. Planned major road construction and potential dune mining activities in the range pose habitat destruction threats in the areas immediately south of the provincial border. A current plan (2017) for a water pipeline in Margate poses a direct threat to a subpopulation, as the pipeline excavation would create a major disturbance and destruction of habitat in the area occupied by the Seaslopes colony of the butterfly. Grasslands in the region are prone to invasion by <i>Chromolaena odorata</i> (Triffid weed), as well as self-seeded Pine and Eucalyptus species, unless properly managed.

Conservation

Land-use planning and development for the coastal region must consider this taxon. Conservation measures should be habitat-focused, and specifically consider fire and alien vegetation management. Population studies would be appropriate.

References 

[@book{772,
 address = {Johannesburg &Cape Town},
 author = {Mecenero, S., Ball, J.B., Edge, D.A., Hamer, M.L., Henning, G.A., Krüger, M., Pringle, E.L., Terblanche, R.F. & Williams, M.C. (eds)},
 publisher = {Saftronics (pty) Ltd and  Animal Demography Unit, University of Cape Town},
 title = {Conservation assessment of butterflies of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Red List and Atlas.},
 year = {2013}
}
,@book{772,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Henning, G.A., Terblanche, R.F. & Ball, J.B. (eds)},
 publisher = {South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {South African Red Data Book: butterflies. SANBI Biodiversity Series},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{772,
 author = {SANBI},
 journal = {South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 pages = {0},
 title = { Vegetation Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland [vector geospatial dataset] 2012. Available from the Biodiversity GIS website.},
 volume = {0},
 year = {2012}
}
,@book{882,
 address = {Cape Town, South Africa},
 author = {Woodhall, S.E.},
 publisher = {Struik},
 title = {Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa.},
 year = {2005}
}
,@book{893,
 author = {Williams, M.C.},
 publisher = {CD-ROM. Available from the author at mark.williams[at]up.ac.za.},
 title = {Butterflies and skippers of the Afrotropical Region.},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
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