Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
This is a range-restricted species endemic to Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa (EOO 297 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 36 km<sup>2</sup>). The number of locations is six, with fragmentation on the mountain tops. The population is prone to threats from urban sprawl, such as pollution, acid rain and habitat destruction by residential developments and invasion of alien plants. The AOO, habitat, number of individuals and subpopulation at the type locality are declining. There are less than 1 000 mature individuals in the entire population, with less than 250 in each of the six subpopulations. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Endangered under criterion C.
Distribution
Endemic to Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa, near Balfour and Greylingstad in the south and Alice Glockner Nature Reserve and Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Heidelberg in the north.
Decline
The habitat at the type locality has been affected by invasive alien plants, and the subpopulation there is under threat.
A preliminary habitat management plan has been implemented, which has led to an increase in the subpopulation at the Alice Glockner Nature Reserve.
Threats
Lack of burning and encroachment of alien invasive vegetation have been observed to be the main causes of the decline of the subpopulation at the type locality. Air pollution from nearby industries and resulting acid rain, lack of burning, and invasive alien plants are all causing ongoing decline in habitat quality at remaining subpopulations. The taxon is protected in two nature reserves.
Conservation
Research has been carried out on the habitat requirements of the taxon, including vegetation and host ant community studies. A preliminary habitat management plan is being implemented.
[@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{890,
address = {Pretoria},
author = {Henning, S.F. & Henning, G.A.},
publisher = {Council for Scientific and Industrial Research},
title = {South Africa Red Data Book - Butterflies.},
year = {1989}
}
,]
