Red List of South African Species

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Near Threatened (NT)
Assessors: David Edge
Facilitators: Mark Williams
Reviewers: Silvia Kirkman Domitilla Raimondo Rolf Oberprieler

Rationale

This is an endemic taxon to the Western Cape Province, South Africa (EOO 12 232 km<sup>2</sup>, AOO 112 km<sup>2</sup>). There are 13 locations, with several subpopulations having become extinct in recent years, and others are threatened and declining as a result of habitat loss to agricultural crop cultivation and coastal development, as well as habitat degradation from suppression of fires and invasion by alien plants. Notwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding the taxonomic status of many subpopulations of this taxon, it currently qualifies as Near Threatened under criterion B. Whilst the previous assessment was Data Deficient because of taxonomic uncertainties, better information has been gathered on most of the known subpopulations for a proper assessment. Although declines have been observed over recent years, it has not been enough for there to be a change in threat category and previously it would have qualified for the Near threatened category, thus the change in status is non-genuine

Distribution

Endemic to the Western Cape Province in South Africa, south coastal region from Somerset West in the west to Plettenberg Bay in the east.

Decline

Some of the previously known subpopulations, particularly in the Knysna to Plettenberg Bay region, have disappeared and become locally extinct. At the type locality in particular searching over several years has not revealed this taxon. The subpopulation near Plettenberg Bay is apparently also extinct. It appears that more intensive farming practices and property developments are the cause of loss of these subpopulations.

Population trend

Trend

There is no information currently available.

Threats

Property development is an ongoing threat in the southern Cape coastal zone. Intensification and extension of agricultural activities is also a threat in some areas. Suppression of natural fires closer to urban areas also leads to habitat degradation, as does growth of alien vegetation. Many of the known subpopulations are threatened from one or more of these causes.

Conservation

A detailed taxonomic study of this taxon is being conducted. Pending the results of this investigation, all known distinctive subpopulations need to be conserved.

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{890,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Henning, S.F. & Henning, G.A.},
 publisher = {Council for Scientific and Industrial Research},
 title = {South Africa Red Data Book - Butterflies.},
 year = {1989}
}
,@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{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{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{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}
}
,@article{168310477,
 author = {Tite, G.E. & Dickson, C.G.C.},
 journal = {Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Entomology)},
 pages = {367–388, 8 pls},
 title = {The <i>Aloeides thyra</i> complex (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
 volume = {21},
 year = {1968}
}
,]
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