Barbara Maregele
A RARE South African butterfly thought to have become extinct three decades ago has been rediscovered by lepidopterists at a private nature reserve near Bela-Bela in Limpopo.
The Waterberg Copper or Erikssonia Edgei was last seen in the only known colony west of Nylstroom in the early 1980s.
“The butterfly was originally found more than a century ago in Ovamboland and later at Mongu, Zambia, by CB Cottrell. On December 21, 1980, Dave Edge found the colony in a small area of grassland on a farm in the Waterberg near Rankin’s Pass. Five years later it disappeared from the area because of changes in its habitat,” said Lepidopterist Society of Africa president Steve Woodhall.
The society’s founder Mark Williams made the “amazing” discovery on Saturday in a new location at Bateleur Nature Reserve 25km north-west of Bela-Bela.
This was a long way from the original locality and later than they were usually sighted, said Woodhall.
“At the last locality the grass was kept short by grazing animals. The larval food plant and host ant were not present at the reserve. More studies need to be done. The butterfly was normally seen nearing the end of January and February; it was unusual for it to be around so late,” he said.
Highveld Butterfly and Moth Club chairman Jeremy Dobson said he and the other custodian of this species, Owen Garvie, will work on a conservation plan to make the new locality sustainable.
“Fortunately there are some factors in the butterfly’s favour as the Bateleur locality may prove to be more extensive and stronger than that at Rankin’s Pass. It has apparently been a very dry season in the Waterberg, which may have delayed its emergence,” he said.
Dobson said reserve manager Wouter Schreuders was excited and aware of the eco-tourism potential. He would assist with any management programme that may benefit the butterfly.