SANBI

Rationale

This species is found in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa and recently it was also recorded in Malawi (EOO 26 000 km2, AOO 60 km2), but could reasonably be expected to be twice or three times that. In South Africa there are five locations, two of which (Manguzi and Sodwana Bay) are under threat from bush clearance, small scale agriculture and urbanisation. There is a possible future threat of insecticide spraying of deltamethrin, to reduce tsetse fly populations to a degree where sterile male release could eradicate them, but in the medium term (5 years) this is unlikely.(A. Armstrong, pers. comm., and www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/ipc/tsetse-flies.html). The Malawian subpopulation is also a location under threat, due to forest clearance encouraged by government action. A Data Deficient (Distribution) assessment could be considered, in the light of the high level of uncertainty about the true distribution. However, the number of locations is small, the AOO is small, and there are threats to at least three locations. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Vulnerable under criterion B. Despite the threats intensifying since the previous assessment, this in itself has not been enough for the taxon to change status. The main reason for the change in status is because better information has become available since the previous assessment, with EOO and AOO estimates as well as number of locations based on more reliable data. Previously, EOO was given as > 50 000 km2, whereas now it is approximately 26 000 km2, possibly more. No AOO figure was given previously, and although still uncertain it is definitely less than 2 000 km2. Currently, six locations are known. Also, several of the records previously stated to be this taxon have proven on examination to be the common and widespread Hypolycaena philippus philippus, with which it can easily be confused. The same Vulnerable category would've been valid for the previous assessment and thus the change in status from Least Concern to Vulnerable is non-genuine.

Distribution

This taxon is found in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, from False Bay in the south to Kosi Bay in the north-east, and Tembe Elephant Park in the north-west. Also found in Malawi (Ruo Forest near Mount Mulanje). There are unconfirmed records from Beira in Mozambique and the Mutare area of Zimbabwe, which were not considered for this assessment.

Decline

"The sites at Manguzi Forest at the north-eastern edge of its range are under severe threat from forest clearance, agriculture and human settlement. Also,the subpopulation at Tembe Elephant Park consists of two locations. One is inside the park, and hence protected from human interference. The other, more southerly one, is outside the park on trust land and threatened by agriculture and urban sprawl.\n\nAlthough there is doubt about the Zimbabwean subpopulation, the old (1967) records from Malawi have recently been supported by a recent capture. However, the collector reports that suitable forest habitat in Malawi is being devastated due to the government handing over control of forest to local chiefs, who are harvesting all the timber and denuding the landscape of trees."

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

This taxon is rare and restricted to suitable forest understory habitat. There appear to be seven subpopulations in South Africa, all of which are in the Maputaland area of northern KwaZulu-Natal Province. There is also a subpopulation in Ruo Forest at Mount Mulanje in Malawi. There are no records from southern Mozambique, which has suitable sand forest habitat where it is likely to be found.

Threats

The subpopulations in Manguzi Forest and Sodwana Bay, despite being inside protected areas, are under threat from bush clearance, small scale agriculture, and urbanisation. The authorities appear to have little power to prevent this. The Maputaland subpopulations also face a possible future threat of insecticide spraying to reduce tsetse fly populations to a point where sterile male release can be used to eliminate them. The Malawian subpopulation is under threat from forest clearance as a result of government allocating responsibility for forest care to local chiefs. This has led to extensive deforestation all over the country (R. Murphy, pers. comm). This is a niche taxon that is vulnerable to changes in rainfall and temperature as a result of anthropogenic climate change. This makes the subpopulations in reserves such as False Bay Park, Tembe and Kosi Bay, as well as Phinda, subject to threats from temperature extremes and droughts.

Conservation

The autecology of this species is poorly known and requires study. Also, the EOO is likely to be larger than that recorded in this assessment. Concerted efforts should be made to find new colonies. Also, the Malawian subpopulation is under threat from deforestation and the government of that country needs to be made aware of the threats to this rare butterfly. It is likely to occur in southern Mozambique. Surveys are required to determine its full range.

References

[@book{772,
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 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}
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,@article{161341657,
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,]

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