Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
Assessors: David Edge
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale

This is a restricted range endemic taxon found in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 231 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 12 km<sup>2</sup>). There are three locations and the population is severely fragmented (locations separated by 15-60 km, far more than the average dispersal range of the taxon). The quality and extent of the habitat has declined, and may decline further if action is not taken. The following changes have taken place since the previous assessment: The Nature's Valley subpopulation has either declined significantly or may be extinct. Habitat degradation at the other two localities (Kareedouw and Witelsbos), since the previous assessment, has reduced the AOO and the size of these subpopulations. Additional recent threats at Kareedouw are illegal dumping of rubble and encroachment of alien trees. At Witelsbos the habitat is becoming overgrown by indigenous and alien trees because the forestry company is not maintaining the roads and keeping them open. The information on population size and changes in the threats have been obtained from several visits to all the known sites. There has been a significant reduction in its overall population since the previous assessment and thus the change in status from Least Concern to Endangered is genuine.

Distribution

Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, from Nature’s Valley near Plettenberg Bay in the west to Kareedouw and Witelsbos in the east.

Decline

"The subpopulation at Nature's Valley has not been recorded for over 20 years. The area has become overgrown by taller fynbos shrubs and woody elements.\n\nThe subpopulation at Witelsbos is along roads through a plantation area and is dependent on the forestry company not allowing the roads to become overgrown.\n\nThe area occupied by the subpopulation on the Kareedouw Pass has been reduced by the dumping of trash at the top of the pass. "

Population trend

Trend

Severely fragmented distribution (subpopulations 15-60 km apart), no gene flow between subpopulations.

Threats

At Nature's Valley, where the taxon has not been recorded for over 20 years, the habitat has been degraded by bush encroachment and growth of fynbos shrubs as a result of suppression of natural fires, leading to loss of the more open sunny places where the taxon's host ant is present. A similar situation exists at Witelsbos and the Kareedouw Pass, where growth of alien trees near the habitat is an emerging threat. The latter locality has also been degraded by dumping of garbage and solid waste at the top of the pass.

Conservation

Letters should be written to the three separate authorities managing the locations of this butterfly (CapeNature, Kareedouw Municipality and Cape Pine Forestry Company) to make them aware of the threats to its survival.

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{893,
 author = {Williams, M.C.},
 publisher = {CD-ROM. Available from the author at mark.williams[at]up.ac.za.},
 title = {Butterflies and skippers of the Afrotropical Region.},
 year = {2016}
}
,@article{161318795,
 author = {Heath, A. & Claassens, A.J.M.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {19--Mar},
 title = {New observations of ant associations and life history adaptations (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Africa.},
 volume = {11},
 year = {2000}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{168303227,
 author = {Edge, D.A.},
 journal = {Metamorphosis},
 pages = {110--115},
 title = {Life history and ecological observations on <i>Aloeides pallida</i>, undescribed subspecies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)},
 volume = {16},
 year = {2005}
}
,]
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