This is a range-restricted endemic taxon from Limpopo Province in South Africa (EOO 72 km<sup>2</sup>). There are currently no known threats. The known larval host plant, <i>Senegalia polyacantha</i>, is abundant in a corridor from Abel Erasmus Pass in the south to the north-eastern parts of Limpopo Province. Adults of the taxon, like the adults of many species of <i>Anthene</i>, are hard to find in the field. It is highly likely that more intensive field work will result in the discovery of further subpopulations in South Africa. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Least Concern and is nationally classified as Rare (Restricted Range). When this taxon was assessed Critically Endangered in 2013 the assessment was based on the information that it was known from a single location (the type locality) and that the habitat was undergoing degradation. Furthermore the taxon was known from only six captured individuals and adults had not been seen for nearly two decades following its discovery. Since this first assessment the taxon has been re-discovered at the type locality by A. Gardiner. A second locality in the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, was found by M. Williams. Following this the larval host plant at Lekgalameetse was determined to be <i>Acacia polyacantha</i> by A. Coetzer. This tree is common in Tzaneen Sour Bushveld (SVl 8). This vegetation type is fairly extensive in the north-east parts of Limpopo Province and is very likely to contain more subpopulations of the taxon. This likelihood is grounded in the observation that the taxon was only recently (2012) found at Lekgalameetse despite the area being well surveyed by lepidopterists since the 1930’s. There are also no significant threats, and this should have applied for the first assessment too. The status change from Critically Endangered to Least Concern is therefore a non-genuine change.
Distribution
Endemic to Limpopo Province in South Africa, from the riverine valley below the escarpment north of the Abel Erasmus Pass to Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve near Ofcolaco.
[@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}
}
,@article{890,
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volume = {19},
year = {2006}
}
,@book{893,
author = {Williams, M.C.},
publisher = {CD-ROM. Available from the author at mark.williams[at]up.ac.za.},
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year = {2016}
}
,@book{168303355,
author = {Libert, M.},
publisher = {A.B.R.I., Nairobi, Kenya & Lambillionea, Chênée, Belgium},
title = {Révision des Anthene africains (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).},
year = {2010}
}
,@article{168310609,
author = {Henning G.A. & Henning, S.F.},
journal = {Metamorphosis},
pages = {156--158},
title = {Description of a new species of Anthene Doubleday (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from the Transvaal, South Africa.},
volume = {4},
year = {1993}
}
,@article{168310609,
author = {Coetzer, A. & Gardiner, A.J.},
journal = {Metamorphosis},
pages = {35--37},
title = {The behaviour and life history of <i>Anthene crawshayi juanitae</i> Henning & Henning, 1993 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).},
volume = {24},
year = {2013}
}
,]
