This taxon is endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 2 488 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 84 km<sup>2</sup>). Ten locations are known, separated by distances between 10 and 35 km, often across land transformed by agricultural activities, coastal developments, industrial complexes, housing estates, plantations and alien infestations. Even 10 km is probably beyond the dispersal range of this taxon (2-5 km average) so all of these locations represent isolated, closed subpopulations, some of which are non-viable. The population is therefore severely fragmented. At some of its locations there is continuing decline in the AOO, extent and quality of the habitat, the number of subpopulations, and the total number of individuals supported by a smaller area of poorer quality habitat is less. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Endangered under criterion B. Severe fragmentation used to categorise this species as Endangered now would have been valid for the previous assessment, following new information being used. Therefore it would have qualified for Endangered previously too, instead of Near Threatened which was based on the number of locations. Thus the change in status is non-genuine.
Distribution
Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, occurring from the De Hoop Nature Reserve near Bredasdorp in the west to a few kilometres west of Mossel Bay in the east.
Decline
Alien plant proliferation is threatening a number of localities.
There are ten locations, separated by 10 to 35 km. This butterfly is a strong flier and there may also be suitable habitat between some of the known locations on rocky outcrops.
Threats
Property and recreational developments (homes, streets, roads, golf courses etc.) continue on the southern Cape coast, particularly around Mossel Bay and Still Bay. Alien vegetation, such as Port Jackson Willow (<i>Acacia saligna</i>) and Rooikrans (<i>Acacia Cyclops</i>), originally introduced to "stabilise dunes" is drastically transforming natural habitat along many parts of this coastline. Other threats are from small scale agriculture and disruption of natural fire regimes to protect human properties.
Conservation
This taxon should be included in environmental impact assessments for all proposed new developments in the coastal zone from De Hoop to Mossel Bay, and further loss of habitat prevented.
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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},
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year = {2013}
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title = {South African Red Data Book: butterflies. SANBI Biodiversity Series},
year = {2009}
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,]
