Rationale
(Changed due to Same category and criteria)
Recent field work has shown this species to be probably absent from the type locality near Durban (and its vicinity). EOO as calculated using GeoCat is over 340000km2. There much uncertainty about this because suitable habitat exists over large areas of southern Africa and EOO may be much larger than estimated in this assessment. Also, the AOO is at a low confidence level because its large range probably contains many more sites than have been hitherto discovered. Records outside South Africa are rare, and there is a degree of doubt as to whether the Botswana record genuinely is this taxon, or a misidentified specimen of another of these confusingly similar, tiny butterflies.
This is a low-density, wide-ranging species that is probably under-reported due to its small size, dull colouration and tendency to keep close to its host plant. It may also be overlooked due to the usual presence of large numbers of other small 'blues' in its habitat, with which it is easily confused. It is, however, a rare species that is seldom encountered, so there is a chance that it genuinely has a low AOO, and if more information is gathered about its true EOO and AOO, a different assessment might result. Although Vachellia trees are common across its range, colonies appear to be few and far between, and they are moderately to severely fragmented. Because of this it is recommended to be assessed as Data Deficient (Distribution).
Distribution
This widespread taxon is found in Limpopo Province and KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, from Durban in the south and northwards into the north-eastern corner of the country. It is also found in Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Widely distributed. The known sites group into eight to 10 subpopulations.
Threats
Widely distributed through sparsely populated areas. Although rare, it is not currently threatened. The subpopulation near Durban appears to have been destroyed by urban development.
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