Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
Assessors: Andrew Morton
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale

An endemic taxon from the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 578 km<sup>2</sup>). There are six locations. This taxon was previously only known from riverine environs around Greyton, which are being degraded and lost as the town of Greyton expands. Several surveys of Greyton over the last five years have resulted in only one individual adult seen in 2015. However, in 2015 the author found the taxon at another locality, 100 km from Greyton, in a nature reserve in Bain’s Kloof. This subpopulation is healthy and in a well-protected area. In 2016 the taxon was found at a third locality, in Du Toit’s Kloof, which also falls within a nature reserve. However, only one specimen was seen and further searches along the Molenaars River in Du Toit’s Kloof are required to determine the size of this subpopulation. All known locations are experiencing ongoing decline in habitat quality as a result of invasion by alien plants. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Vulnerable under criterion B. Since the previous assessment the author of the current assessment has done much field work in order to establish the true status of this taxon. The localities around the type locality are degraded and only one specimen has been seen in the last four years. However, healthy populations have been found in Baineskloof 100 km away and a single specimen was taken at Du Toit’s Kloof since the previous assessment. The EOO has now increased to 578 km<sup>2</sup> and there are six locations. These localities would have existed during the previous assessment. Despite the discovery of new localities the taxon is still under threat as it is experiencing ongoing decline in habitat quality as a result of invasion by alien plants. The status change from Endangered to Vulnerable is therefore non-genuine.

Distribution

Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, previously only known from the foot of the Riversonderend Mountains, near Greyton, but two other subpopulations, at Bain’s Kloof and in Du Toit's Kloof, were discovered by the taxon author in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Decline

The areas on the outskirts of Greyton, where the butterfly was previously found, are being rapidly developed as Greyton's population swells.

Population trend

Trend

There is no information currently available.

Threats

The habitat around Greyton has been significantly degraded by human interference (residential encroachment, grazing etc.). These factors appear to account for the disappearance of the taxon from some of its former localities around Greyton. Two newly discovered subpopulations occur in nature reserves but are still threatened by encroachment of alien vegetation.

Conservation

Further field surveys are required to establish the range and relative abundance of this taxon (surveys in the last two years have resulted in the discovery of two subpopulations). These two subpopulations are within nature reserves, one private (Bastiaan’s Kloof in Bain’s Kloof) and the other under (Du Toit’s Kloof) under the authority of CapeNature. Continued alien vegetation control is required at both sites.

References 

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 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,
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 year = {2009}
}
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,@article{168297784,
 author = {Pringle, E.L. & Schlosz, M.J. },
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {167--171},
 title = {Description of a new subspecies of <i>Kedestes niveostriga</i> (Trimen) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from the Greyton District of the south-western Cape.},
 volume = {8},
 year = {1997}
}
,@article{168297784,
 author = {Schlosz, M.J.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
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 title = {A report on the current status of <i>Kedestes niveostraga schloszi</i> and some observations on the larval foodplant.},
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}
,@article{168297784,
 author = {Morton, A.S.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {15--16},
 title = {Discovery of a new locality for the endangered skipper butterfly <i>Kedestes niveostriga schlossi</i> Pringle & Schlosz, 1997.},
 volume = {27},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
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