Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale

An endemic species from Limpopo Province, South Africa (EOO 4 km<sup>2</sup>). There is one location and the population is small. There is decline in EOO, AOO, habitat, number of subpopulations and number of mature individuals because of the loss of one of the two known locations, mainly due to fires during the flight period. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered under criterion B. A new locality for this species was recently found and thus it is no longer Possibly Extinct. It still occurs in a very restricted range and faces threats from untimely fires, thus the change in status from possibly Extinct to Critically Endangered is non-genuine.

Distribution

Endemic to Limpopo Province in South Africa, only existing at one locality in Sekhukhuneland.

Decline

No specimens have been seen at the type locality for 17 years, despite repeated searches. Fires during the flight period have been recorded and are presumed to have resulted in the demise of subpopulation. It was very small and probably a satellite colony of the larger subpopulation in Sekhukhuneland further north.

Population trend

Trend

The population is restricted to a unique habitat. Seldom are more than a dozen adults have been seen to fly at any one time during the flight period.

Threats

The main threat to this species is untimely fires (both natural and human-induced). Fires during the flight period of the adults could destroy a large part of the reproductive population. The larvae may survive a fire in certain instars, but no published information on this is available. The main locality is near a human settlement, and cattle are grazed on the common land. There is potential for some agricultural development. Nearby mining operations may also pose a threat.

Conservation

There are currently no conservation measures in place, but a detailed management plan is recommended for this taxon. Special attention should be given to appropriate fire regimes as well as to the constant threat of mining and agricultural activities in the area. It is vital that more autecological research is undertaken.

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}
}
,]
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