Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
A restricted range taxon endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, with an extent of occurrence (2 646 km<sup>2</sup>) and area of occupancy (72 km<sup>2</sup>). There are six known locations, including four for which taxonomic uncertainty exists (i.e. Gouritsmond, two near Still Bay and Witsand). There is severe fragmentation of the distribution of this taxon, with only the two Knysna locations being reasonably close (6 km apart), but still beyond the average dispersal range of this taxon of c. 2 km. The other locations are separated by gaps of between 25 and 120 km. There is a continuing decline in the EOO, AOO, area, extent and quality of the habitat, and of the number of subpopulations. This situation is illustrated by looking at the Brenton Peninsula location, where a formerly widespread and large single subpopulation has become fragmented through the building of roads, houses and infrastructure, as well as agricultural activities and the spread of alien vegetation, into 5 smaller subpopulations between which almost no demographic or genetic interchange now takes place. It therefore qualifies as Endangered under criterion B.
Distribution
Endemic to the southern coastal regions of the Western Cape Province in South Africa, from Witsand to Gouritsmond in the west, to the Brenton Peninsula near Knysna in the east.
Decline
At some locations the habitat quality has been declining because of alien plant encroachment and lack of regular burning of the fynbos.
All the subpopulations are threatened to a greater or lesser extent by alien vegetation. For example, on the Brenton Peninsula three subpopulations have been lost in the last 15 years. Property development in these coastal habitats is an ever present threat and has already caused the loss of several subpopulations in the Knysna and Stilbaai areas. The reduction in frequency of fires near human habitation is also believed to have a detrimental effect on this species by leading to shading out of the habitat. The build-up in fuel-load can also lead to very severe fires, which have the potential to wipe out subpopulations (for example, the high intensity fires which took place in June 2017 around Knysna).
Uses and trade
No threats from harvesting.
Conservation
Eradication of alien plants on the Brenton Peninsula, and restoration of natural fire regimes. See Research section. The life history, including the host plant and ant associations, needs to be studied. Methods need to be devised to maintain the habitats at the current localities in suitable condition for the host plant and host ants. The role of fire in the ecosystems where the butterfly occurs needs to be established.
[@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,
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,@book{893,
author = {Williams, M.C.},
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title = {Butterflies and skippers of the Afrotropical Region.},
year = {2016}
}
,@article{895,
author = {Edge, D.A.},
journal = {Metamorphosis},
number = {2.0},
pages = {28--46},
title = {Butterfly conservation in the southern Cape, South Africa.},
volume = {16},
year = {2005}
}
,@article{168299647,
author = {Pringle, E.L.L.},
journal = {Metamorphosis},
pages = {107–114, 1 pl.},
title = {Four new Lycaenidae from the Cape Province, South Africa},
volume = {5},
year = {1994}
}
,]
