SANBI

Rationale

This is a range restricted endemic taxon from the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 62 km2). The majority of this taxon’s former habitat has been lost to urban and agricultural development and the population is severely fragmented. There are four remaining locations. The subpopulation in Strandfontein is bisected by a major road and mortality rates from passing traffic are high. A portion of this habitat along Strandfontain road is likely to be lost to an imminent road widening. The damp seeps in which the host plant grows are drying out and the host plant is becoming combustible. This taxon occurs in two municipal reserves managed by the City of Cape Town where it is well protected at Pelican Park and Rondevlei. The location at Steenberg railway station is likely to be no longer viable as consistent surveys over the last five years have resulted in no adults being recorded. There is a subpopulation at the Cape Flats Nature Reserve at the University of the Western Cape. The reserve management are aware of the butterfly and the reserve is well managed. Invasive alien plants are causing ongoing habitat degradation at all known subpopulations. The taxon therefore qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered under criterion B. The nature and intensity of the threats to its already severely fragmented population have increased since the previous assessment. A portion of this habitat along Strandfontein road is due to be lost to an imminent road widening. Drought is causing the damp seeps in which its food plant grows to dry out and the food plant is becoming combustible. The subpopulation at Steenberg Railway station has been lost. Invasive alien plants are causing ongoing habitat degradation. The status change from Endangered to Critically Endangered is therefore genuine.

Distribution

Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, from Strandfontein, Retreat and Bellville South on the Cape Flats.

Decline

The habitat of this taxon is severely fragmented. The damp areas where its foodplant grows are drying out due to drought and soil water extraction by alien vegetation. Alien vegetation has also increased the frequency and intensity of fires. One location, in the Cape Flats Nature Reserve, is too close to the Cape Town International Airport, and all planned burns have been cancelled over the years due to safety/visibility concerns for aeroplanes. The habitat at the location near the Steenberg station is disturbed and neglected.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

There is no information currently available.

Threats

Development across the Cape Flats has destroyed a large portion of suitable habitat. Development includes housing, farming and a large sewage works at Strandfontein. The last remaining suitable habitat is severely fragmented. Some of this habitat is degraded by alien vegetation which dries out the seeps in which the host plant grows. The threat and intensity of fires is enhanced by the flammable alien wattles. The largest subpopulation is bisected by a major road with ever increasing traffic and an imminent threat of road widening. The act of throwing cigarette butts from car windows has also increased the amount of fires in the main subpopulation at Strandfontein. The converse is true for the subpopulation in Belville. Fires are far too infrequent and planned burns impossible due to the proximity to the airport where visual clarity is of utmost importance to air traffic.

Conservation

Three of the subpopulations do occur in protected areas (Zandvlei and Rondevlei Municipal Nature Reserves and the Cape Flats Nature Reserve). The Kedestes Conservation Committee has been formed to plot a way forward to best protect the two Kedestes species (Kedestes lenis lenis and Kedestes barbarae bunta) that occur on the Cape Flats. The committee comprises representatives from the following concerned organisations: LepSoc Africa, Brenton Blue Trust, City of Cape Town, UCT and Cape Town Environmental Education Trust, with the taxon author as chairman.

References

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,]

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