INVERTEBRATES
Swanepoel’s brown butterfly, Pseudonympha swanepoeli
Listed as critically endangered this species occurs in a single degraded marshy area at an altitude of about 2 000 m in the Wolkberg Mountains, near Houtbosdorp. Males normally have a wingspan of 46-50mm and females 44-48mm. This species is very habitat specific and occurs in a small geographic range with exceedingly low abundance. These butterflies are normally identified by their whiskey colour. Females are smaller with rounded wings, while males have hind wings which looks like a beaten pewter. The flight period of this species is during February and March in the north, and November to February in the south. Larvae feed on Poaceae grasses or Cyperaceae sedges, but most likely grass (Poaceae) occurring in the butterfly’s marshy habitat. Fires and forestry threatens the integrity of its habitat and it had been stated in previous studies that conservation action may already be too late.
Wolkberg Zulu, Alaena margaritacea
Classified as critically endangered this species is very habitat specific and found in secluded colonies on steep grassy slopes with lichen-covered rocks in the vegetation type known as Woodbush Granite Grassland of the Mesic Highveld Grassland Bioregion. Males normally have a wing span of about 26 mm and females of about 29 mm. Males are usually identified by their uppersides and females by their undersides. The sexes are very alike, although the wings of the males are more pointed then the females. They are scarce and localised, and under severe threat from alien tree plantations in grasslands. Larvae feed on cyanobacteria. The flight period of this species is from late December to early January. In good seasons this small locality can have a large population of several hundred adults flying. The female lays her eggs on rocks, usually covered by the appropriate lichen, which aids as is the food plant. Adult males do some ‘almost-hilltopping’ act near midday when they congregate at the higher rocks in the colony. Their habitat is under severe threat from plantations.
Lotana Blue, Lepidochrysops lotana
Classified as critically endangered, this butterfly species inhabits the lower slopes of the grassy hills on the western side of the Ysterberg and the opposite east-facing slope. It has narrow habitat specificity and prefers the vegetation type of Strydpoort Summit Grassland in the Mesic Highveld Grassland Bioregion. This is a smallish geographic range with a very low abundance, and it has a declining population trend. Habitat change in the near future may cause this butterfly species to become extinct. Males normally have a wing span of up to 44mm and females of up to 46mm. Males have a dark blue upper side of wing with a large prominent hind wing with black-and-orange anal area. Females are normally dark grey-brown with darker spotting. Their wings normally show blue basal and discal areas on all wings. Their flight period is from September to early November. It has a declining population trend, and habitat change in the near future may cause this butterfly species to become extinct.
Listed as critically endangered this species occurs in a single degraded marshy area at an altitude of about 2 000 m in the Wolkberg Mountains, near Houtbosdorp. Males normally have a wingspan of 46-50mm and females 44-48mm. This species is very habitat specific and occurs in a small geographic range with exceedingly low abundance. These butterflies are normally identified by their whiskey colour. Females are smaller with rounded wings, while males have hind wings which looks like a beaten pewter. The flight period of this species is during February and March in the north, and November to February in the south. Larvae feed on Poaceae grasses or Cyperaceae sedges, but most likely grass (Poaceae) occurring in the butterfly’s marshy habitat. Fires and forestry threatens the integrity of its habitat and it had been stated in previous studies that conservation action may already be too late.
Wolkberg Zulu, Alaena margaritacea
Classified as critically endangered this species is very habitat specific and found in secluded colonies on steep grassy slopes with lichen-covered rocks in the vegetation type known as Woodbush Granite Grassland of the Mesic Highveld Grassland Bioregion. Males normally have a wing span of about 26 mm and females of about 29 mm. Males are usually identified by their uppersides and females by their undersides. The sexes are very alike, although the wings of the males are more pointed then the females. They are scarce and localised, and under severe threat from alien tree plantations in grasslands. Larvae feed on cyanobacteria. The flight period of this species is from late December to early January. In good seasons this small locality can have a large population of several hundred adults flying. The female lays her eggs on rocks, usually covered by the appropriate lichen, which aids as is the food plant. Adult males do some ‘almost-hilltopping’ act near midday when they congregate at the higher rocks in the colony. Their habitat is under severe threat from plantations.
Lotana Blue, Lepidochrysops lotana
Classified as critically endangered, this butterfly species inhabits the lower slopes of the grassy hills on the western side of the Ysterberg and the opposite east-facing slope. It has narrow habitat specificity and prefers the vegetation type of Strydpoort Summit Grassland in the Mesic Highveld Grassland Bioregion. This is a smallish geographic range with a very low abundance, and it has a declining population trend. Habitat change in the near future may cause this butterfly species to become extinct. Males normally have a wing span of up to 44mm and females of up to 46mm. Males have a dark blue upper side of wing with a large prominent hind wing with black-and-orange anal area. Females are normally dark grey-brown with darker spotting. Their wings normally show blue basal and discal areas on all wings. Their flight period is from September to early November. It has a declining population trend, and habitat change in the near future may cause this butterfly species to become extinct.