Species of the Day: Karkloof Blue
© Sheng-Shan Lu
Species of the Day: Karkloof Blue The Karkloof Blue, Orachrysops ariadne, is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is confined to a very special type of habitat, wood’s indigo, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. While it lays its eggs on the host plant, the larva grows up in association with the Carpenter ants which live alongside it. Its four populations are very small, with only a few dozen individuals at each locality. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The main threat to the Karkloof Blue is the conversion of land to commercial timber plantations, with a simultaneous spread of these alien trees into natural areas. Inappropriate burning regimes within this species’ habitat, and the impacts of domestic cattle, are also potential threats to their very small populations. The four localities are now in protected areas, where the butterfly is protected and the habitat is managed appropriately. At one of the localities, Nkandla Forest Reserve, the local Chube community is overseeing the care of this flagship species. The Karkloof Blue is also represented on a logo for the local tourist route, the Midlands Meander.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
Species of the Day: Karkloof Blue The Karkloof Blue, Orachrysops ariadne, is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is confined to a very special type of habitat, wood’s indigo, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. While it lays its eggs on the host plant, the larva grows up in association with the Carpenter ants which live alongside it. Its four populations are very small, with only a few dozen individuals at each locality. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The main threat to the Karkloof Blue is the conversion of land to commercial timber plantations, with a simultaneous spread of these alien trees into natural areas. Inappropriate burning regimes within this species’ habitat, and the impacts of domestic cattle, are also potential threats to their very small populations. The four localities are now in protected areas, where the butterfly is protected and the habitat is managed appropriately. At one of the localities, Nkandla Forest Reserve, the local Chube community is overseeing the care of this flagship species. The Karkloof Blue is also represented on a logo for the local tourist route, the Midlands Meander.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
