A range-restricted endemic species known only from one locality in the Cedarberg in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 1 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 8 km<sup>2</sup>). There has been a drastic reduction in the number of specimens recorded over the last few seasons, and there was a fire that burnt the habitat in December 2016. While the fire occurred outside of the butterfly's flight period, it is believed that early stages (larvae and/or pupae) may have been killed. No empirical data are available, but the number of adult butterflies observed in the 2016 season before the fire (J. Dobson, pers. obs.; H. Selb and A. Morton, pers. comm.) appeared to represent an order of magnitude reduction from the 2012 season (H. Selb, pers. comm.). The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered under criterion B. The 2012 assessment was based on the assumption that this species would be located within other areas nearby given the extensive and pristine nature of the site. However, extended searches recently, within apparently suitable habitat nearby, have failed to locate any more butterflies, and thus the assumption has since been proven to be incorrect. It is a very localised species, having an AOO < 1 km<sup>2</sup> and one location. During the previous assessment there were no obvious threats. However, the numbers of adults seems to have crashed in recent years, with approximately 10 specimens observed in 2016 (J. Dobson, pers. obs.). The drought is believed to be responsible for the recent decline, culminating in a fire that swept through the locality in December 2016. While this fire was outside the adult butterfly’s flight period, it is believed that early stages of the butterfly may have been destroyed. The previous assessment should have considered fire as a future potential threat and this species should consequently have been listed as Vulnerable D2. The reduction in population size since the 2012 assessment and the current threats of fire and drought, make it Critically Endangered now, and thus the change in status from the previous assessment, which should have been Vulnerable, is genuine.
Distribution
Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, known only from the type locality in the Cedarberg mountains, south-east of Clanwilliam.
This taxon is known from a single subpopulation. Searches within apparently suitable habitat in the immediate vicinity have not located any further subpopulations.
Threats
Although this species occurs in a remote area of the Cedarberg, it appears to be dependent on patches of <i>Merxmuellera</i> grass, which are confined to the banks of a small stream. It is uncertain what the effect of the recent drought will have on this vegetation. In addition, the entire locality was burnt during the course of a fire in September 2017, during the butterfly’s flight period. The consequences of this event will only become apparent during the course of the coming season.
Conservation
Ongoing monitoring of this butterfly should be undertaken by LepSoc Africa, during the known flight period of September and October. These surveys should try and establish the full extent of occurrence and relative abundance of this taxon. In addition, the taxon’s life history needs to described, as this will focus future conservation efforts. None of the listed conservation measures appear to offer any practical benefit at this stage.
[@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}
}
,]
