Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Ernest Pringle
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale

A range-restricted endemic from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 77 km<sup>2</sup>). There are no current threats, but invasive alien vegetation is a plausible future threat. There are four locations, with a possibility of there being more than 10. The discovery of this species on the summit of the Baviaanskloof mountains means that there are probably many other localities for it on this mountain range. These mountains are largely inaccessible, and so are relatively unexplored. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Least Concern. The discovery of this species on the summit of the Baviaanskloof mountains means that there are probably many other localities for it on this mountain range. Both the Baviaanskloof and the Lady Slipper mountains form part of nature reserves. These mountains are largely inaccessible, and so are relatively unexplored. The number of locations is therefore likely more than 10 and the AOO is currently 28 km<sup>2</sup>. There are also no real visible threats to the colonies on the summits of these mountains, which are little disturbed by humans, although invasive alien vegetation may be a future potential threat. As a result the change in status from Vulnerable to Least Concern is non-genuine.

Distribution

Endemic to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, on the summits of the Baviaanskloofberg near Patensie in the west to near St Albans (flat ground near Old Cape Road) at Port Elizabeth in the east, with the strongest known population on the Witteklip Mountain to the west of Port Elizabeth.

Population trend

Trend

There are four locations currently known, one near St Albans, two on the Lady’s Slipper mountains, and one on the summit of the Baviaanskloof mountains. It is possible that the number of locations could exceed 10, with further exploration of the area.

Threats

Alien invasive plants are a future potential threat, and this taxon has lost habitat in the past through urban development in Port Elizabeth.

Conservation

The old St Albans locality must be located and searched for the butterfly, and more subpopulations should be searched for on inland mountain ranges. The encroachment of alien trees on Witteklip Mountain needs to be arrested and reversed.

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}
}
,@book{882,
 address = {Cape Town, South Africa},
 author = {Woodhall, S.E.},
 publisher = {Struik},
 title = {Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa.},
 year = {2005}
}
,@book{882,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Pringle, E.L., Henning, G.A. & Ball, J.B. (eds)},
 publisher = {Struik-Winchester},
 title = {Pennington's Butterflies of southern Africa.},
 year = {1994}
}
,@article{161337163,
 author = {Heath, A. & Pringle, E.L.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {2--44, plus CD--ROM},
 title = {Biological observations and taxonomic review based on morphological characters in the myrmecophilous genus <i>Chrysoritis</i> Butler (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Aphnaeini). },
 volume = {18},
 year = {2007}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page