and plants Fire and butterfl ies on

The white-branded swift, thrax incon­ spicua, has for no apparent reason disappeared from Blinkwater Gorge, even though its usuallar­ val food plant, cottonwool grass cylin­ drica still occurs there. Photo: A.J.M. Claassens

Are fires responsible for the disappearance of some of our species from Table Mountain?

by AJ.M. Claassens

The destructiveness of fynbos moun­ of butterfly known to occur on Table head, nectar-seeking ants always found tain and veld fires is the subject of Mountain are common elsewhere, and on protea flowers, seek out the larva to heated debate. The fact remains that can re-colonize the area after a fire. imbibe its sought after secretion. The fires, wherever they occur, kill thou­ In this article I look at seven spe­ common waboom Protea nitida, which sands of insects and spiders and a good cies of lycaenids, a family of often survives fires, is not a larval food deal of the larger vertebrate , made up of the blues and coppers, six plant, but the sugarbush Protea repens not to mention the plants, the existence of which have disappeared or become and the king protea Protea cynaroides, of which become more and more endan­ extremely scarce on Table Mountain, once common on the mountain, are gered. (See text box on page 96.) and one of which was endemic to these used. The now very rare rooisuikercan As far as butterflies ofTable Mountain* mountains, but to the best of our Protea grandiceps is also a suitable lar­ are concerned, the larvae and pupae knowledge has become extinct in recent val food plant, but it disappeared from of some are unaffected by fires and years. Fellow lepidopterists and I have Table Mountain long ago. probably often survive the heat under­ noticed with dismay the disappearance ground in ants' nests (as many butter­ or near disappearance of these species The dark opal Chrysoritis nigricans flies are closely associated with ants). of butterflies over the last forty years. nigricans once known from several Most species, especially in their early, localities along the Table Mountain immature stages, have no defence The protea scarlet Capys alphaeus, range has almost, or more likely com­ against fire and are burnt to death. once common on Table Mountain wher­ pletely, disappeared from the area. Luckily most of the fifty-five species ever stands of proteas grew, has dis­ The butterfly has not been seen for appeared in many places along the years, or very rarely so, in some of its mountain range possibly due to fires erstwhile known habitats in or near having destroyed its larval food plants. the Peninsula. Its larval food plants The female protea scarlet deposits her include Zygophyllum, Osteospermum eggs near the base of a protea bud. The and Thesium. Lepidopterists realized emerging larva eats its way into the that the existence of the dark opal was head and feeds on the developing seeds threatened many years ago and in 1976 inside and later pupates there. After it was placed on the protected list of the emerging from the pupa, the mature Cape Province, together with the now butterfly, that is, the 'caterpillar neatly probably extinct Lion's Head copper dressed', escapes from the protea head referred to later. However nothing was through the entrance hole, made large ever done to protect any of the habitats enough by the larva prior to pupation. of these two species. Successive fires The mature would not be able that killed the mature butterflies, their to expand its wings if it remained too brood and their food plants in their spe­ long inside its little 'changing room.' cial habitats have adversely affected the The larva of the protea scarlet (Capys alphaeus) The protea scarlet larva possesses a survival of this truly magnificent but­ eats its way into the head of a protea bud and honey-gland on the rear end of its back terfly. As with other butterflies belong­ feeds on the developing seeds inside. and although it feeds inside a protea ing to the lycaenid family, the larvae

92 June 2006 Veld&Flora of the dark opal are associated with their back when they are disturbed, Apart from building a large carton nest certain ants. The ant species associated ready to squirt a foul smelling liquid at for themselves, the ants also construct with the dark opal's larvae is a small intruders - hence their common name. little carton-like shelters around the black cocktail ant, Crematogaster lieng­ larvae, where they rest on the food mei, that can build carton nests, but The water opal Chrysoritis palmus plant and where they visit the lar­ prefers to nest in old, hollow or decay­ palmus, as far as Table Mountain is vae to imbibe the sweet secretion of ing branches and roots. In captivity the concerned, is known only from a small their honey-glands. The larvae are thus dark opal can be reared from larvae area in Orange Kloof where I found protected against small predators and away from the presence of this ant, but it closely associated with the com­ parasites. I do not know the present in its natural environment the ants, mon carton nest building cocktail ant conservation status of the butterfly because of their generally aggressive (Crematogaster peringueyi) and where in its peaceful and tranquil habitat, behaviour towards other insects, pro­ the larval food plants, a species of because about twelve years ago I was tect the larvae they visit against inver­ Berzelia, Osteospermum polygaloides refused entrance to Orange Kloof by tebrate predators and parasitic wasps. and Chrysanthemoides monilifera grow the authorities then concerned with Cocktail ants tilt their abdomen over in abundance. issuing of permits and I have since

LEFT: The water opal (Chrysoritis palmus palmus) is found on Table Mountain only in a small area in Orange Kloof. Photo: A.J.M. Claassens.

BELOW LEFT: The nest of the common carton nest building cocktail ant, Crematogaster peringueyi. These ants relish the sweet secre­ tions from the honey-glands of the water opal larvae and protect them against small preda­ tors and parasites. Photo: A.J.M. Claassens.

BELOW RIGHT: Author Andre Claassens in Orange Kloof: the habitat of the water opal, Chrysoritis palmus palmus. Photo: Jill Claassens.

The author Dr Andre Claassens was born in Holland in 1926. He was ateacher by profession and taught for 40 years in various schools first in Holland and later in South Africa. He has always been a keen naturalist, following in the footsteps of his father, also ateacher with an extensive knowledge of local flora and fauna. From avery young age he was interested in insects, particularly but­ terflies. After graduating from University College, Cork, Ireland he moved to South Africa in 1966 and became particularly interested in those but­ terflies whose larvae are closely, sometimes obligatorily, associated with ants. He wrote and co-authored many articles on the subject in various natural history publications, but especially in Metamorphosis, the publication of the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa. He has co­ authored avery successful general science and biology text book series for South African high schools, and has written three books on local butterflies. Dr Claassens and his wife Jill have two married sons and seven grandchildren.

June 2006 Veld&Flora 93 then not re-applied. The water opal a (Hesperiidae), has for no appears to have vanished from several apparent reason disappeared from this of its previously known habitats in the gorge. Its usual larval food plant, cot­ Peninsula sometimes due, at least in ton wool grass , is part, to encroachment of alien vegeta­ still common in places where lush tion, but in others repeated fires must vegetation has not completely over­ have been a major cause of its disap­ shadowed it. Several birds including pearance. They prefer damp habitats, sugarbirds and sunbirds are common where the butterfly's major food plants in the gorge and a permanent mountain tend to grow in profusion. Orange Kloof, stream is a breading place for dragon­ where a mountain stream runs next to flies and frogs, including the groaning the butterfly's habitat, is such a place. and grunting Cape river frog (Afrana I am afraid that this butterfly, if still fly­ juscigula). During its breeding season, ing in Orange Kloof, must be constantly that lasts from spring right through threatened by fires. Small, isolated but­ summer, I have often heard its mat­ terfly colonies usually are worst affected ing call, a loud tapping rat-tat-tat-tat by fires because there is little chance sound. Its tadpoles grow unusually that, even after conditions have turned large and lie motionless at the bottom normal again, individuals from far away of the stream. habitats will take their place. That is no I also surprised a spotted eagle doubt also true for certain other inver­ owl here, dreaming in its shady day­ tebrate animals. Many lycaenid but­ time shelter and on another occasion terflies, including the opals and related witnessed to my horror a pied crow species tend to stay in close proximity remove the chicks of a tree-nesting owl. to their larval food plants and since Blinkwater Gorge could be such an habitats have become very fragmented, ideal place for teaching children about populations of these butterflies have plants and animals, and instilling in become isolated so that, once they and them a love for nature. Both love and their habitats are destroyed, they are knowledge will make them aware of not likely to be replaced. the need for conservation of even small habitats close to home. The jitterbug daisy copper, Chrysoritis zeuxo, used to occur in Blinkwater The donkey daisy copper Chrysoritis Gorge, above Camps Bay. Small colo­ zonariusis known on the Table Mountain nies of this butterfly also used to occur range only from a small, very sensitive near Tafelberg Road, but they have area on the lower slopes close to the been adversely affected by too-frequent coast at Camps Bay. Its larvae feed fires and appear to have completely on Chrysanthemoides incana a species vanished from there. For many years very similar to Chrysanthemoides mon­ I enjoyed watching this very localized ilifera but differing from it in having butterfly at Blinkwater Gorge but the silvery-grey leaves. Its larvae are associ­ colony there disappeared about ten ated with cocktail ants, Crematogaster years ago, also probably due to fires peringueyi. I visited the area in February raging through the area and destroy­ 2006 and was shocked to find the ing the butterflies larval food plant, habitat in a terrible state of neglect. Chrysanthemoides monilifera, together Builders' rubble was dumped illegal­ with all the butterfly's brood, as well as ly and vagrants inhabit it. Although nests of a hitherto unnamed cocktail the area was extremely dry so that ant (a species of Crematogaster) which one glowing cigarette butt could set it visits their larvae for their sweet secre­ alight, the food plant was still growing tion. Blinkwater Gorge, once frequent­ in good numbers, but has suffered from ed by walkers, with or without dogs, encroachment by other vegetation and nature lovers and butterfly enthusiasts, new footpaths. I did not see the butterfly TOP: The jitterbug daisy copper, Chrysoritis zeuxo, was long regarded and treated as a little itself, but its early stages may still be on on its food plant, Chrysanthemoides monilifera. This nature reserve, but oflate has become a the food plants. Unfortunately the clos­ butterfly used to be a common sight in Blinkwater Gorge, above Camps Bay, but has not been seen neglected, dirty, overgrown, unsafe and est area where the donkey-daisy copper there for about ten years. Photo: A.J.M. Claassens. very unattractive place - only attractive is plentiful, is from Bloubergstrand to vagrants. Yet the habitat, neglected northwards so that should the butter­ ABOVE: Blinkwater Gorge, above Camps Bay, once as it is, is still fairly rich in varieties fly have disappeared from Camps Bay, the habitat of the jitterbug daisy copper and the white­ branded swift butterfly, but no more. of plants and is the 'playground' and there is practically zero chance that Photo: A.J.M. Claassens. breeding place of about twenty-five dif­ individuals from outside will replace ferent species of butterfly. them. The management and protection Another butterfly, the white-brand­ of this last habitat of a beautiful little ed swift, Pelopidas thrax inconspicua, butterfly right among their midst would,

94 June 2006 Veld&Flora ABOVE: What used to be the habitat of the donkey daisy copper Chrysoritis zonarius on the lower slopes of Table Mountain, close to the coast at Camps Bay. Photo: A.J.M. Claassens.

LEFT: The endemic Lion's Head cop­ per, also known as scarce mountain copper, Trimenia malagrida malagrida is now extinct. It was last seen twelve years ago on the slopes of the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head. Could too­ frequently occurring fires have hastened its end? Photo: A.J.M. Claassens.

with the assistance of the relevant The western sorrel copper Lycaena associated, surviving in suitable places authorities, offer a rare opportunity for orus was one of my favourite butterflies on the Table Mountain range and other local educators and learners to become to watch in four small habitats I knew areas not too far away that eventually practically involved in nature conserva­ along the lower slopes of the Twelve may re-colonize the destroyed habitats, tion. There is a school a stone's throw Apostles and Lion's Head. Alas repeated but only after sufficient larval food away that could actively participate in fires in those areas have destroyed its plants re-establish themselves. this project. larval food-plants which include species The same goes for a school close of Polygonum and sorrel or dock Rumex, The Lion's Head copper, also known to Blinkwater Gorge. Imagine a board both of which often grow in fairly damp as scarce mountain copper, Trimenia saying, 'This reserve is maintained and places and along water courses. There (=Argyrocupha) malagrida malagrida monitored by pupils of .. .' or something are probably small colonies of the but­ was previously known to occur on the along these lines. terfly, the larvae of which are not ant- slopes of the Twelve Apostles and Lion's

June 2006 Veld&Flora 95 Head, but it has gradually disappeared from these areas. Fire and Fynbos Repeated attempts by myself and others to find this pretty little but­ terfly in a specific area on Lion's IN FYNBOS ecology, fires are not destructive. They are essential to the long-term Head where the last known colony health of fynbos. What is bad is when they happen too often. The author of the of the butterfly was known to have accompanying article claims that fires are to blame for the disappearance or survived until about 1994, have been scarcity of some species of butterflies on Table Mountain. However, their food in vain. plants are in many cases still abundant on Table Mountain so the destruction One can only conclude that the but­ of their food plants cannot be the main reason for their disappearance. In fact terfly has now gone from this last some of the larval food plants are pioneer species that disappear in old fynbos habitat and that the subspecies has and thus actually require periodic burns for their survival. These butterflies rely most probably been extinct for about on indigenous ants for their larval stages, and I would guess that the impact twelve years. There was always hope of Argentine ants on the local ant fauna might have something to do with their that another colony would be found scarcity. somewhere on the slopes of the Twelve The role of fires in causing this scarcity has not been established. The loss of Apostles, but I am afraid that the recent Protea repens, for instance, may have more to do with urbanization than burn­ very extensive fires have dashed that ing. An elderly friend of mine remembers collecting litres (or pints) of sugarbush hope once and for all. nectar from the lower slopes of Devils Peak as a youngster. That area is now Fires are known to result in the under buildings, roads and Estate, hence the disappearance of the pro­ regeneration first of low vegetation such teas. What would be nice would be some historical records about the butterfly as preferred by the scarce mountain species. When were they first collected on the mountain, for instance? Are there copper. In days long past when moun­ records that they were ever more widespread across the mountain? Perhaps tain fires occurred naturally only once some of Veld & Flora's readers have some answers to these questions. perhaps in ten or fifteen years, they John Manning, Compton Herbarium, Kirstenbosch may well have been advantageous to the survival and much wider occur­ We need to be constantly reminded that fire is one of the keystone ecologi­ rence of the species despite the fact that cal processes for all plant communities in the Table Mountain National Park. the butterfly shows no definite prefer­ Admittedly such fires, if too frequent, may cause some short-term damage in an ence to any plant and their larvae do evolutionary time scale. But human disturbance in the Park has been occur­ not appear to feed on them. ring for thousands ofyears and yet the rich biodiversity heritage remains intact. The life cycle of this butterfly is still What has been lost can be blamed on land transformation and other human not known. Messrs A. Heath and A. exploits - but not necessarily directly on fire. Just visit these seemingly lifeless Brinkman who studied the subspe­ and black ash filled landscapes and observe very carefully, and give the systems cies Trimenia malagrida maryae which a little time too. In all cases you will find that the species are regenerating and occurs in the Bredasdorp district, came there is an abundance of new life. Not only do many of the species of all shapes to the conclusion that the larvae need and kinds re-sprout, but the soft, ash-rich soil is an excellent medium for seed­ the presence of the pugnacious ant ling regeneration. Thus in a few years these seemingly razed communities will (Anoplolepis custodiens) because larvae blossom forth, rejuvenated by fire. and pupae were found in underground Eugene Moll, Chairman of Council, Botanical Society nests of these ants, but the exact rela­ tionship between the two could not be established. It was also noticed that buchu plants Further reading were quite common in this subspe­ Claassens, A.J.M., and Dickson, C.G.C. 1980. Butterflies ofthe Table Range. Struik, Cape cies' habitat as well as in the Lion's Town. (Out of print). Head copper's last known habitat on Claassens, A.J.M. 2000. Butterflies of the Cape Lion's Head. Buchu was also found in Peninsula: Acomprehensive guide. Tafelberg. . the habitat of the subspecies, Trimenia Claassens, A.J.M. 2005. Butterflies of the malagrida paarlensis on the Perdeberg Western Cape: a guide to common garden, park near Klipheuwel. and wayside butterflies. Sunbird. (See review in Anoth.er subspecies, T. malagrida ced­ the September 2005 issue of Veld & Flora. rusmontana occurs on the Cederberg and certain other south-western Cape mountains. It may well be that habitat ABOVE: Not as bad as it looks: helicopters of T. malagrida paarlensis on the Paarl bombing the April fire on Table Mountain with Mountains, from where it was first water. Photo: Alice Nollen. recorded, was also destroyed by fires, BELOW LEFT: Regenerating veld - three weeks resulting in the apparent disappear­ after the fire on the slopes of Kirstenbosch this ance of the butterfly from that area. ~ Heamanthus sanguinius appeared. Photo: Alice Nollen *For the purposes of the article, 'Table Mountain' includes the range of mountains from to the front of Table Mountain along Tafelberg Road.

96 June 2006 Veld&Flora