"When she [Barbara] showed me around the property a couple of years ago, we found the food-plant, Indigofera erecta, and we therefore feel there is a good chance that we could introduce the Brenton Blue butterfly to this site as the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve is less than a kilometre away," explained Dr Dave Edge, Brenton Blue butterfly expert. Edge is confident that this property could, in future, become a second home for the critically endangered Brenton Blue butterfly.
On November 29, butterfly enthusiasts were taken on a walk through the proposed new nature reserve, in search of the food-plant. "We were delighted to find a considerable number of new plants at suitable places in the proposed new reserve," explained Edge.
Edge then took the group to the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve, where the adult butterflies were observed. He explained details of the butterflies’ unusual life history, including a fascinating symbiotic relationship between the larvae and certain ants.
Edge explained that the properties, Uitzicht 216, portions 81 and 79, are owned by the Knysna Municipality. An agreement was reached some years ago between the Brenton Blue Trust and the municipality to manage portion 81 as habitat for the Brenton Blue butterfly.
He explained, "When this has been accomplished an agreement will be sought to manage portion 79 in a similar fashion. The owner of portion 78 will also be approached to seek an agreement to manage this land so that a continuous corridor between all these properties becomes possible."
He added, "In the past the Brenton Blue butterfly was found on all these properties before they became overgrown. Previous to modern man's impact on the environment around Knysna, natural processes such as fires and browsing by large animals such as elephants kept the habitat more open and suitable for the Brenton Blue, its larva, food-plant, and its host ant."
Barbara has agreed to transfer her nature reserve into a trust so that it can be conserved in perpetuity. "Even if the Brenton Blue butterflies won't take to the area straight away (there may not be enough food-plants or the correct ants), we can manage it in such a way as to increase the growth of food-plant and encourage the right ants," concluded Dr Edge.
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A female Brenton Blue butterfly with her wings closed, showing the underside colouring of the wings. (Photo: Justin Bode.)
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
