A range-restricted endemic from the Gydo Mountain in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 1 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 8 km<sup>2</sup>). There is one location. The taxon has not been seen during the normal flight period since 2004 despite regular surveys. The vegetation has shown no signs of degradation, but fruit tree farming has expanded on the lower slopes of the mountain range to the north and may have had an influence on the population through drift of insecticides used for crop spraying. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered under criterion B. The previous assessment was based on misidentifications and incorrect coordinates which resulted in more than one locality. Verification of the data have shown there is only one locality. Regular surveys still have resulted in no observations of this taxon. The threats rename unknown, there are no visible or obvious reasons as to why the taxon has not been seen for a number of years. It may occur on surrounding peaks but these are difficult to get to. The situation with this taxon would've been the same for the previous assessment and thus the change in status from Least Concern to Critically Endangered is non-genuine, as it should've also been Critically Endangered in the first assessment.
Distribution
Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, from the northern slopes of the Gydo Mountain near Ceres. It is suspected that this taxon may occur in the mountain ranges north of Gydo but there are no records to substantiate this to date. The taxon author has searched these possible localities but the species was not seen.
It is extremely difficult to assess the threats faced by this species. These may arise from farming activities near the locality, for example the use of herbicides and pesticides. The taxon has not been seen for a few years, but it is unclear why. It is not likely to be a result of drought because this taxon has not been seen during the wettest seasons, and the drought has only been a recent event.
Conservation
The taxon occurs in a protected area, but its population has shown a decline as no adults have been seen since 2004. Action is needed to determine the reason for the decline. More field work needs to be done to try and find new localities.
[@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}
}
,@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{11558,
address = {CapeTown},
author = {Clark, G.C. & Dickson, C.G.C.},
publisher = {Purnell and Sons},
title = {Life histories of the South African Lycaenid butterflies},
year = {1971}
}
,]
