Butterfly surveys around Sutherland for BioGaps

by Silvia Kirkman

During the September school holidays I had a gap to conduct butterfly surveys at two sites near Sutherland (Rooiheuwel and Portugalsrivier) for the BioGaps project. The family came along and we had a good time exploring the area.

We stayed on a farm near Sutherland in a very rustic cottage - this was our base.

From there we drove out on two separate days to survey the two sites, which were easily found. We saw some interesting flowers and bugs at both sites, photos of which will be submitted to iSpot.

Catching tadpoles.

Day 1 was at Portugalsrivier, quite close to the extinct volcano Salpeterskop which we could see from a distance. It was a hot day so we pitched our little beach tent for shade – it was a welcome relief! Our two boys had their own little nets for helping to catch butterflies – however, very few were seen and once we came upon a river the nets very quickly became tadpole catching nets – much more fun!

Portugalsrivier

Warrior Silver-spotted Copper (the only butterfly I managed to photograph)

There were some low koppies on this site. On the one I came across a few Warrior Silver-spotted Coppers (Argyraspodes argyraspis). I have never encountered this butterfly before, so I was surprised that trying to catch this feisty little insect turned into an intense half-hour battle on the koppie – it is quite a warrior! After about 5.5 hours of walking about the 1 x 1 km site (which is actually quite a large area to cover properly) I found nine species of butterflies. Six of these belong to the family Lycaenidae. Regularly seen was the Common Meadow White (Pontia helice helice) and quite a few of another common butterfly, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), were also seen. All butterflies seen are Least Concern, with only two being endemic to South Africa: Van Son’s Copper (Aloeides vansoni) and Trimen’s Brown (Pseudonympha trimenii nieuwveldensis).

Portugalsrivier

Day 2 was at Rooiheuwel, close to where the April BioGaps bioblitz took place. This site was very flat and densely covered with small, tough and spikey bushes. It was quite difficult to walk through it, having to hop over and around bushes continuously. It was extremely hot (upper 30s) and I had to cut the afternoon survey short due to hyperthermia. Fortunately there was a big shady tree by the farm house where the kids could play under for most of the time while my husband watched over them. After 4 gruelling hours in the heat I found seven species of butterflies, of which five were Lycaenids. The Common Meadow White was once again regularly seen. All butterflies seen are Least Concern.

Rooiheuwel scenes

At the end of each day it was lovely to head back to our base and have a relaxing braai under the magnificent Sutherland skies, full of thousands of stars that it was almost impossible to pick out the constellations. We managed to fit in a visit to the fascinating SALT telescope, for which Sutherland is renowned.

Nightsky above our cottage.

SALT telescope

Sutherland bade us a typical frosty good-bye on the morning that we left.

BioBlitz near Matjiesfontein launches Karoo BioGaps Project

A BioBlitz was held on Saturday 16 April 2016 near to Matjiesfontein in the Karoo.  The BioBlitz was part of SANBI’s project activities for the Department of Environmental Affair's Shale Gas Development Strategic Environmental Assessment (SGD SEA) and also marked the launch of the 3-year Karoo BioGaps Project.

The Chairman of SANBI's Board, several board members, senior national government officials from different departments, representatives from the Northern Cape and Western Cape government, university professors, and volunteers from the general public joined the Karoo BioGaps Project taxon leads for a fun day searching for species.

Some of the interesting plants seen on the BioBlitz

The SANBI CEO, Dr Tanya Abrahamse, looking for butterflies

 Looking for scorpions and reptiles hiding under the rocks

Join us for a BioBlitz on 16 April 2016

Scientists know very little about the plants and animals in the Karoo, and there is an urgent need to document the indigenous Karoo flora and fauna. This information will support responsible decision-making around the question of shale gas and other infrastructure development in the area.

What is BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is an event for a short period of time when groups of scientist, naturalists and volunteers conduct a thorough field study to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi and other organisms as possible within a certain area.

BioBlitz date: Saturday 16 April 2016

Venue: Meet at The Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein.

Time: Meet at the hotel at 08:30 sharp. We will return that afternoon.

Bring: Packed lunch, water, sunscreen, hats, comfortable clothes, walking shoes, cameras

RSVP: Dr Theresa Sethusa (t.sethusa@sanbi.org.za) by 31 March 2016

About the Karoo BioGaps Project

About the project

Karoo BioGaps Project: Filling biodiversity information gaps to support development decision-making in the Karoo

There is a historical lack of biodiversity data for the Karoo.  The Karoo BioGaps Project aims to mobilise foundational biodiversity data to advance our scientific understanding of valuable Karoo ecosystems to support decision-making around the question of shale gas and other infrastructure development in the area. 

The current paucity of biodiversity data will be addressed through:
1) integrating and upgrading existing species data located in museums and herbaria, and 
2) conducting detailed surveys for 11 representative taxonomic groups in areas targeted for shale gas exploration.

Karoo grasshopper

The 11 taxonomic groups are: plants, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles; as well as six invertebrate groups: bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers, scorpions, butterflies and spiders.


More information about the project is on www.sanbi.org/biogaps