SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

This is an endemic taxon from the Free State and Gauteng provinces in South Africa (4 465 km<sup>2</sup>). There are five locations. The extent and quality of the habitat has declined as a result of overgrazing by livestock. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Endangered under criterion B.

Distribution

Endemic to the Free State and Gauteng provinces in South Africa, from Heilbron in the south to Doornkuil and in the vicinity of Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Heidelberg in the north.

Decline

"All known sub-populations of this species are found in prime agricultural areas. While difficult to quantify, there has been a visible deterioration, over a period of approximately ten years, in the quality of habitat within at least two sites, due to overgrazing. \nIt seems likely that this grazing pressure will continue in future and that areas of currently underutilized land adjacent to streams will reduce in size due to grazing or cultivation.\n\n"

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

There is no information currently available.

Threats

All known subpopulations of this species are found in prime agricultural areas. While difficult to quantify, there has been a visible deterioration, over a period of approximately ten years, in the quality of habitat within at least two sites, due to overgrazing. It seems likely that this grazing pressure will continue in future and that areas of currently under-utilised land adjacent to streams will reduce in size due to grazing or cultivation.

Conservation

Cooperation of the landowners is required in order to prevent undue disturbance and degradation of the habitat. LepSoc Africa will attempt to inform landowners and farmers about the presence of this butterfly on their land and measures that should be taken to conserve it. Further taxonomic and life history research is required to compare the southern and northern subpopulations. Monitoring of subpopulations is essential. This will be undertaken by LepSoc Africa.

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{161320521,
 author = {Terblanche, R.F. & Edge, D.A.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {131--141},
 title = {The first record of an <i>Orachrysops</i> in Gauteng},
 volume = {18},
 year = {2007}
}
,]

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