19 June 2008
Dear Butterfly Net
SABCA's first field season has just ended. A number of surveys were conducted in most provinces, but many planned surveys were hampered by rainy weather during the season. Here is some news on what has been happening around the country:
Ernest Pringle - Provincial Leader's update:
Surveys proved disappointing, with few species seen. Areas which still require detailed exploration are the Matatiele district, the Maclear district, and the Collywobbles region south of Idutywa in the Transkei, and inland of the Dwesa - Cwebe forests. The Nardouwsberge near Graaff-Reinet also require attention.
Reinier Terblanche - Provincial Leader's update:
No formal surveys have yet begun here, surveys will begin in ernest during the next field season.
Jeremy Dobson - Provincial Leader's update:
About a dozen quarter-degree cells within Gauteng have been thoroughly surveyed, the total number of species that we have recorded from Gauteng is just under 200. New locality records were found for six species, two of which are rare species (Aloeides dentatis and Metisella meninx).
The SABCA survey in Gauteng appears to be ahead of its programme: the diagram to the left shows Gauteng divided into quarter-degree grid cells. Red cells indicate where no data is available, blue cells where very little data is available, and green cells indicate areas where a good amount of data is available. The aim is for the cells to become green - as can be seen in the map for January 2008, many of the red cells from August 2007 have now become blue or green, thus good progress in data collection is being made.
Kevin Cockburn - Provincial Leader's update:
Many surveys have taken place in KZN. Many good contacts have been made, and data have been gathered in the interior of Northern KZN. Two areas have been identified as being most data-deficient, i.e. the Northern KZN inland area and the Southern KZN inland area.
Richard Dobson - Visit to Umtamvuna Nature Reserve in November-December 2007:
Numerous species of Lycaenidae were seen, and a new distribution record was found for Precis antilope just outside of the reserve.
Bennie Coetzer - Provincial Leader's update:
Surveys were conducted at various reserves and farms in Limpopo. No special butterfly observations were made except for a healthy colony of Alaena margaritacea.
Dave McDermott - Provincial Leader's update:
Surveys were conducted at various reserves, lodges and other areas within the province. The number of species observed at different survey sites ranged from three to 76 species.
Dave McDermott - Visit to Mabusa Nature Reserve in February 2008:
A total of 38 different species of butterflies were observed. Conditions were not good – very overcast but fairly warm. There has been good rainfall with extensive water seepage occurring on the slopes and vleis, dams and rivers full of water. The trees and grass were lush green and there were plenty of flowers. Typical Burkea/Peltophorum woodland was interspersed with a few areas of predominantly Acacia, a few Proteas grew on the higher slopes and river courses were well treed. It is suspected that the weather kept many butterflies e.g. the common Charaxes, from getting on the wing and a number of the species observed, particularly in the earlier part of the day, only flew when disturbed in the grass. In better weather it is believed more species would have been seen. We thank the manager of the Mabusa Nature Reserve, Mr Frans Tlou, for his assistance and co-operation in allowing us unrestricted access to the area.
Graham Henning - Provincial Leader's update:
Many surveys have been conducted in this very large province, but there are still large gaps. Data has yet to be evaluated.
Peter Roos - Provincial Leader's update:
A new record of Axiocerces coelescens was found, the first for this province. New distribution records were found for a number fo other species. It is interesting to note that surveys done in 2001 and 2003 did not record Charaxes Brutus natalensis, which was the most common Charaxes observed during the SABCA field survey.
Dave Edge - Provincial Leader's update for Southern Cape:
Surveys in the southern Cape yielded new species records, ranging from four to 23 new species records.
Jonathan Ball - Provincial Leader's update for western part of Western Cape:
Numerous records have been made by LepSoc members this past year. A new taxon of Satyrid (Cassionympha) has been discovered by a non-LepSoc member.
Andrew Morton - Visit to Koeberg, May 2008:
Hilton Westman (conservation manager) was very helpful when I wanted to do a survey at Koeberg. I took my two nephews Liam and Thomas Beardwood and my dad, and a great time was had.
John White - Visit to Sanbona March 2008:
On March 22 2008 (Easter Saturday) Jonathan Ball and John White, with our wives, set off early to the 54 000 hectare Game Reserve called Sanbona, which is situated south off the R62 between Montagu and Barrydale - Little Karoo country. This magnificent reserve has the "Big 5" and is in the same group as Shamwari in the Eastern Cape.
We had been invited by Fred and Josie Stow, who manage the estate, to commence an insect survey - mainly butterflies, but also moths and Neuroptera. We were treated extremely well, and also well guarded by our head ranger Liesl, and assistant rangers Marco and Paul in the landcruiser. On the Sunday we were joined by Fred, Josie and their charming young daughter, Emma. It became a major expedition in this magnificent scenic area. Sadly we only had three nets so we all took turns and I must say all the "beginners" became very adept at spotting butterflies and handling a net. Without listing all the different species in detail, suffice it to say that we found about 10 different species, including Aloides, Thestors, Chrysoritis, Catopsilia, Florella, Danaus Chrysipis, as well the common whites and blues. It all went well and there were two close encounters with elephant, lion or leopard!!
On the Sunday afternoon Jonathan gave all the rangers a one hour talk with slides on insects in general and everyone was fascinated with his explanations. One could feel that they had become very interested in a field not many of them had explored. We promised to send details on supplies of nets, setting boards, pins, storage capacities and permit applications, etc.
Obviously it will take several visits to advise on such a wide subject but at least a start has been made. Thank you to Sanbona and their wonderful staff for looking after us so well.
Silvia Mecenero - Visit to Elandsberg Nature Reserve and Bontebokridge Reserve with CREW (Custodians for Rare and Endangered Wildflowers), April 2008:
The reserves contain pockets of threatened renosterveld. It was hoped that many butterflies would be observed, but few were seen (six species, mostly Lycaenids), more than likely due to the strong wind that was blowing that day. The wind did not hamper the CREW group from finding the very threatened Marasmodes species, which was the main reason for their trip.
Thank you to the participating LepSoc members who are giving up much of their free time for the surveys, and to the Provincial Leaders for working hard on getting the surveys organised! Teams adhere to LepSoc's Code of Conduct as well as to various nature conservation and forestry permit conditions, which set strict limits to the number of specimens that are permitted for collection.
Much ground has yet to be covered within the atlas region and SABCA does not have enough people to survey all the gaps - LepSoc members cannot cover the entire country due to limited time and resources. Therefore, this is a reminder to encourage you all to submit photos of butterflies and their life stages to SABCA's Virtual Museum, including butterflies seen in private gardens where it will be difficult for LepSoc members to survey. Photos of all butterflies, even common species are wanted. Photos of butterflies from different areas around South Africa are needed to help us fill in the gaps. The Virtual Museum's competition is still running - please go this this webpage to find out more.
Surveys would not be possible without the collaboration of various nature conservation and forestry institutions and organisations, as well as landowners. A big thank you to those listed below for supporting SABCA's field work through providing permits, licenses and permission.
CapeNature, Western Cape Province
Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng Province
Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Tourism, North-West Province
Dept. of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Eastern Cape Province
Dept. of Nature and Environmental Conservation, Northern Cape Province
Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs, Free State Province
Dept. of Water affairs and Forestry (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape)
Eastern Cape Parks Board
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, KwaZulu-Natal Province
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (formerly the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority)
Komatiland Forestry
Limpopo Provincial Government, Limpopo Province
Mondi Business Paper and Mondi Shanduka
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Mpumalanga Province
MTO Forestry
North West Parks and Tourism Board
SAPPI Forests
South African National Parks
News on SABCA's second field season which starts in August, will be given in the next Field Trip Newsletter at the end of this year.
Silvia Mecenero
SABCA Project Coordinator
Email:
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Last updated: 19 June 2008.
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