14 May 2007
Cape Town — The Western Cape is home to one of the world's most critically endangered butterfly species, the Brenton Blue, which is now down to just 100 individuals. This butterfly was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered on the Fynbos Reserve in Nature's Valley in 1977 by Dr Jonathan Ball of Cape Town.
But because of disturbance and the fynbos becoming overgrown, this population declined and eventually became extinct in the area. Attempts to reintroduce the butterfly there have not been successful.
Then a small colony at Brenton-on-Sea near Knysna was discovered by Ernest Pringle in 1991.
After a long and protracted battle, a housing development planned for this site was finally scrapped and a special nature reserve - the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve - was proclaimed in July 2003.
But despite this conservation victory, the future is not looking promising for the Brenton Blue, a Lycaenid butterfly whose conservation status is being researched by Lepidopterists' Society of Africa member Dave Edge.
Although the site has been rehabilitated to provide the butterfly's food plant, the principal host ant, Camponotus baynei, is absent, which may be the reason that a viable butterfly population has not yet become established, although changing weather patterns could also be a factor.
Some butterfly species like the Brenton Blue have a very close ecological relationship with ants, with their eggs and larvae being cared for and protected by the ants.
The priority is now to establish the host ant at the Brenton site and to increase the number of specific food plants.
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