LYCAENIDAE
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.4314/met.v31i4.1 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B887F5-FFF1-FFE3-FF47-FFA8BD8E2E3B |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
LYCAENIDAE |
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FAMILY: LYCAENIDAE View in CoL
Genus Alaena De Boisduval, 1847 .
Alaena margaritacea Eltringham, 1929 Wolkberg Zulu ; Wolkberg Zoeloe
André J. Coetzer
CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Endemic
Assessment rationale: This is a highly range-restricted endemic from Limpopo province in South Africa ( EOO 8 km 2, AOO 8 km 2). There are two locations. When the Red List status of this species was previously assessed there was only one locality known for the species, the second only having been discovered in 2013. Unfortunately , both locations fall outside officially protected areas, and are threatened by plantations and other factors associated with commercial operations (change or reduction in fire frequency, invasive species and decreased soil moisture content). In addition, the quality of the habitat is deteriorating and the two localities are severely fragmented, with little or no corridor for gene flow. The previous 2012 assessment inferred a decline in the number of mature individuals. It was based on observations from the 1980s where hundreds of specimens were seen in a day, compared to the 10 to 30 specimens that are typically seen in a day during recent surveys. However, without detailed quantitative analyses this criterion cannot be used as it may well be a sampling artifact, where surveys are affected by season, weather and sampling effort. Due to the small AOO and EOO, the severely fragmented small subpopulations, and the decline in the quality of the habitat, the status remains Critically Endangered, qualifying under criterion B .
Change in status from SABCA: The status has not changed from the previous assessment.
Threats: The type locality is surrounded by plantations, which prevent the dispersal of specimens, and therefore gene flow, between the subpopulations. Plantations are also known to affect the soil water content and may have a negative impact on the remaining grassland. Due to the risk of damage to the plantations, the fire regime for both locations is no longer natural.
Conservation measures and research required: A buffer zone from the exotic plantation trees and a fire management plan is needed to protect the type locality. Research is needed into the population size, variability and area of occupancy at both known sites.
Type locality: Haenertzburg.
Taxonomy: There are no notable issues.
Distribution: Endemic to the Limpopo province in South Africa, restricted to two subpopulations in the Wolkberg mountain range.
Habitat: Steep rocky slopes of Woodbush Granite Grassland associated with lichen-covered rocks. There seems to be a connection between a Xerophyta species ( Velloziaceae ) growing in the area and the butterfly species. Xerophyta is not listed as a key species for either of the vegetation types, but it is present at both the known localities, and absent from most of the pristine grasslands where the butterfly is also absent.
Vegetation types: Gm25 Woodbush Granite Grassland, Gm26 Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland. Relevant literature:
Coetzer, A.J. (2015). Life history and conservation status of Alaena margaritacea Eltringham, 1929 ( Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae : Poritiinae ) Metamorphosis 26: 32–37.
Genus Aloeides Hübner, 1819 .
Aloeides barbarae Henning & Henning, 1994
Barberton Russet; Klein Bruin Kopervlerkie
Graham A. Henning
EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Endemic
Type locality: Barberton, Transvaal, 3 Dec. 1989, N.K. Owen-Johnston.
Taxonomy: The specimens from Swaziland are in the USA and were studied from photographs supplied. The author is satisfied that they represent this species.
Distribution: Found in Mpumalanga province in South
formerly there, road works and trampling by visitors to the reserve. Mining is a potential threat in the reserve.
Conservation measures and research required: A management plan is needed, which limits disturbances (such as fires or grazing) and deterioration of the habitat at all the known sites. Research is needed into the life history and ecology/habitat needs, which includes monitoring of both the habitat and the population.
Aloeides caledoni Tite & Dickson, 1973
Caledon Russet; Caledon Kopervlerkie
Ernest L. Pringle
LC
Rare – Low Density
Endemic
Africa, on the hills between the Sheba and Fairview mines near Barberton, to Malolotja National Park in Swaziland.
Habitat: Rocky ridges in sub-montane grassland.
Vegetation types: Gm16 KaNgwane Montane Grassland, Gm17 Barberton Montane Grassland, SVl12 Kaalrug Mountain Bushveld, SVl3 Granite Lowveld.
Assessment rationale: A range-restricted species from Mpumalanga province in South Africa and also from Swaziland (EOO 168 km 2, AOO 32 km 2). There are three locations. The habitat is declining in the Mountainlands Nature Reserve due to invasive plants. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Endangered under criterion B.
Change in status from SABCA: The status has not changed from the previous assessment.
Threats: The prospect of mining in the Barberton area and the presence of plantations of alien Eucalyptus trees in the vicinity of one of the subpopulations are threats to the continued existence of the butterfly in the area. Fire near or during the flight period is a serious threat to all subpopulations. Grazing and other disturbances is causing ongoing decline to habitat quality. The subpopulation in the Mountainlands Nature Reserve is under threat from habitat modification owing to the effects of grazing by animals not
Type locality: Cape province: Shaw's Mountain, south of Caledon .
Taxonomy: There are no notable issues.
Distribution: Endemic to the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces in South Africa, from Caledon in the west to Nieu-Bethesda in the east.
Habitat: Rocky summits and slopes of mountains.
Vegetation types: FFq3 Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos, FFs12 Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, FFs23 North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos, FRs6 Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld, Gh1 Karoo Escarpment Grassland.
Assessment rationale: An endemic species from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa ( EOO 38 972 km 2). There are six widely separated subpopulations, none of which are threatened. It is clear that the short flightperiod and the localised nature of its colonies have resulted in this taxon being overlooked in its area of distribution. The taxon’s wide distribution indicates that there will, in due course, be many other colonies found. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Least Concern and is nationally classified as Rare (Low Density) .
Change in status from SABCA: The status has not changed from the previous assessment.
Threats: No threats identified. Known colonies are in arid, remote mountainous areas.
Conservation measures and research required: No conservation actions recommended. Research is needed into the taxonomy of the widely scattered populations, life history, ecology, population size, distribution and trends.
Aloeides carolynnae aurata Pringle, 1994 De Hoop Dark Russet ; De Hoop Kopervlerkie
Ernest L. Pringle
NT D2
Endemic
FRs13 Eastern Ruens Shale Renosterveld.
Assessment rationale: An endemic taxon from the Western Cape province in South Africa (EOO 900 km 2, AOO 36 km 2). There are six known locations. Although some of these are from within the De Hoop Nature Reserve, and are therefore not threatened, subpopulations occurring outside the reserve are threatened by agricultural developments, alien vegetation, poor fire management and coastal housing development. The taxon thus qualifies globally under the IUCN criteria as Near Threatened under criterion D.
Change in status from SABCA: The status has not changed from the previous assessment.
Threats: There are no immediate threats as the majority of this taxon's records are from within the De Hoop Nature Reserve. For populations outside the reserve, agricultural development, new roads or housing could severely impact on the habitats. Fire frequency and grazing also have to be monitored. A number of properties near some of the localities may become available for sale and the associated development has to be monitored. The ecosystem status of the habitat, from a vegetation perspective, is Vulnerable. Invasive alien vegetation remains a future potential threat.
Conservation measures and research required: Research is needed to monitor the population size at the known sites and to locate additional subpopulations; and to establish the life history and ecology including any ant symbionts. When this information is to hand management plans are required for the known the sites, which could include a fire regime to be implemented.
Type locality: Witsand , Western Cape province .
Taxonomy: There are no notable issues.
Distribution: Endemic to the Western Cape province in South Africa, from the De Hoop Nature Reserve near Bredasdorp in the west to the Riversdale district in the east.
Habitat: Flat, sandy terrain in subcoastal fynbos.
Vegetation types: FFd9 Albertinia Sand Fynbos, FFl2 De Hoop Limestone Fynbos, FFl3 Canca Limestone Fynbos,
Aloeides carolynnae carolynnae Dickson, 1983 Slanghoek Dark Russet ; Voetheuwel Kopervlerkie
Fanie Rautenbach
EN B1ab(i,iii,iv,v)
Endemic
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.