A South African butterfly thought to have become extinct 30 years ago has been rediscovered by lepidopterists at a private nature reserve near Bela-Bela in Limpopo.
The Cape Times reported Tuesday that the Waterberg Copper (also known as 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," said Lepidopterist Society of Africa president Steve Woodhall.
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," Woodhall added.
The society’s founder Mark Williams made the “amazing” discovery on Saturday in a new location at Bateleur Nature Reserve about 15 miles northwest of Bela-Bela.
"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," Williams told the newspaper.
Highveld Butterfly and Moth Club chairman Jeremy Dobson said they will be working on a conservation plan to make the new locality sustainable for the butterfly.
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