Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
Assessors: Graham Henning
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

A very range-restricted endemic species from Mpumalanga Province in South Africa (EOO 58 km<sup>2</sup>). There are four locations. This taxon is found in four small subpopulations of less than 250 individuals in each, with less than 1 250 individuals in the population. The taxon is found at high elevations where forestry and habitat modification is a threat and there is habitat decline due to alien plant invasions and inappropriate fire management. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Endangered under criteria B and C.

Distribution

Endemic to Mpumalanga Province in South Africa, known from five sites near Pilgrim's Rest, namely Mount Sheba Nature Reserve, Morgenzon Forestry at the top of Robber's Pass, Trout Hideaway and Sterkspruit Nature Reserve as well as further south at Elandshoogte near Nelspruit.

Decline

A patch of black wattle below the ridge at Robber’s Pass is continually expanding and may effect the colony in the long term. The colony at the type locality has been destroyed by forestry.

Population trend

Trend

From available counts, a population size of fewer than 250 individuals per locality is expected.

Threats

The colony at Robber’s Pass, Morgenzon Forestry, is restricted to a ridge a few hundred metres long and is infested with black wattle (<i>Acacia mearnsii</i>). There is another colony on the top of the escarpment at Trout Hideaway, a few kilometres to the south, which is threatened by invasive plants. The colony in Sterkspruit Nature Reserve was threatened by expansion of a pine plantation, but this plantation has since been felled. The colony at Klipbankspruit (the type locality) has been destroyed by forestry. A further colony to the south, near Nelspruit, has been located, but more research is necessary at this locality.

Conservation

Population size and habitat quality should be monitored regularly. There should be no further habitat encroachment by either plantation forestry or infestation of alien trees, and the latter should be removed. Autecological research is needed.

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{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}
}
,@article{890,
 author = {Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (eds)},
 journal = {Strelitzia},
 pages = {0},
 title = {The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.},
 volume = {19},
 year = {2006}
}
,]
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