Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Critically Endangered (CR)
Assessors: Jeremy Dobson Chris Dobson
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

A range-restricted endemic to Limpopo Province in South Africa (EOO 15 km<sup>2</sup> and AOO 8 km<sup>2</sup>). This taxon is known from only two locations. No adults have been seen at the Perdekop location for more than 20 years. Numerous searches in the adjacent area have failed to locate further subpopulations. The habitat at the Perdekop location has deteriorated markedly and is believed to have led to the disappearance of the taxon at this site. Its presence at a second location, Bateleur Nature Reserve, was discovered in March 2013. While the subpopulation at Bateleur is receiving regular monitoring by LepSoc Africa, numbers of the butterfly have been in rapid decline for four years in a row, very likely a result of one of the worst droughts in recorded history. LepSoc Africa organised a controlled grass-burn at the Bateleur location in August 2016. This appears to have improved the quality of habitat within the area occupied by one of the two colonies at this location. The other colony, beyond the Bateleur boundary fence, plus the Perdekop location have received no active management. The subpopulations are severely fragmented. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered under criterion B.

Distribution

Endemic to Limpopo Province in South Africa, confined to two locations in the Waterberg Mountains.

Decline

"The habitat at both the Perdekop and Bateleur locations was actively protected from grass-fires for many years. This was a consequence of the presence of game animals at both sites.\nAt the Perdekop site, the absence of burning resulted in a visible change in the veld character: open, sandy patches disappeared and Gnidia kraussiana host-plants reduced in number and became moribund. The number of butterflies at this site reduced rapidly and none have been seen for about 15 years (J. Dobson and O. Garvie, 2005).\nThe Lepidopterists' Society of Africa arranged for a controlled grass burn at the Bateleur site in August 2016, which appears to have rejuvenated the veld to some degree.\n"

Population trend

Trend

Based on observations from the Bateleur site, the number of adults have decreased every year for the last four seasons. However, there is no quantifiable data available.

Threats

A major threat at the Perdekop locality was the lack of regular burning and the exclusion of grazing animals. There were no fires from 1984 to 1989 and the population declined. After fire cycles were reintroduced in 1989 the population increased. Since then the habitat became severely overgrown and the larval host plant disappeared. No adults have been recorded from this site for more than 20 years. At the Bateleur location a controlled burn was undertaken in August 2016 and the initial indications are that the veld has been rejuvenated, with abundant flowering <i>Gnidia</i>. The most significant current threat to this site was a recent drought, which was only broken in 2017. The number of butterflies observed through regular site-monitoring has declined rapidly over the last three seasons.

Conservation

This taxon is managed under LepSoc Africa’s COREL program. Conservation actions include regular monitoring and habitat management of the Bateleur subpopulation. Searches for new localities in the Waterberg should be continued. The option of seeking Provincial protection for the Bateleur site is being considered.

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{882,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Pringle, E.L., Henning, G.A. & Ball, J.B. (eds)},
 publisher = {Struik-Winchester},
 title = {Pennington's Butterflies of southern Africa.},
 year = {1994}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{161336484,
 author = {Dobson, J. & Garvie, O.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {67--71},
 title = {A report by the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa on the current status of the South African population of <i>Erikssonia acraeina</i> Trimen, 1891 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
 volume = {16},
 year = {2005}
}
,@article{161336484,
 author = {Henning, S.F.},
 journal = {Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa},
 pages = {337--342},
 title = {Life history and behaviour of the rare myrmecophilous lycaenid <i>Erikssonia acraeina</i> Trimen (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
 volume = {47},
 year = {1984}
}
,@article{161336484,
 author = {Henning, S.F. & Henning, G.A.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {337--342},
 title = {Life history and behaviour of <i>Erikssonia acraeina</i> Trimen (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1984}
}
,@article{161336484,
 author = {Gardiner, A.J. & Terblanche, R.F.},
 journal = {African Entomology},
 pages = {171--191},
 title = {Taxonomy, biology, biogeography, evolution and conservation of the genus <i>Erikssonia</i> Trimen (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
 volume = {18},
 year = {2010}
}
,@article{161336484,
 author = {De Wet, J.I. },
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {146--148},
 title = {The management of the butterfly <i>Erikssonia acraeina</i>, Trimen, 1891 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the Waterberg.},
 volume = {6},
 year = {1995}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page