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Post by Melanie on Jul 8, 2005 23:53:02 GMT
Known by three type specimens collected on the Bashee River by J. H. Bowker in 1863
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Post by another specialist on Aug 8, 2005 4:44:12 GMT
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Post by sebbe67 on Jun 19, 2006 16:19:40 GMT
The pale yellow Bashee River buff, Deloneura immaculata, is known from only three specimens collected from Fort Bowker on the Bashee River in 1863. The species has not been recorded since, despite an extensive search by numerous collectors over the years, and is considered Extinct.
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Post by sebbe67 on Dec 10, 2006 21:12:41 GMT
Only known from Fort Bowker, Bashee River, Eastern Cape. Has not been recorded since 1860s. Habitat was (is) riverine forest. Flight period December to January. Very poorly known. Appears to have had a weak, fluttering, moth-like flight. ' Only known from female specimens. Upperside orange-yellow with no markings. Underside hindwing yellow with poorly defined costal and outer margin. www.ukzn.ac.za/redlist/detail_page.asp?id=135 |
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Post by sebbe67 on Jan 8, 2007 19:31:47 GMT
 Source: A field guide to the butterflies of South Africa |
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jan 23, 2007 20:27:40 GMT
So, according to what you said, this species seems to have always been rare, wasn't it?
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Post by sebbe67 on Jan 23, 2007 21:24:25 GMT
So, according to what you said, this species seems to have always been rare, wasn't it? It seems to be a very rare/local species due to the fact that no one has found it despite many attempts. |
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jan 25, 2007 19:06:37 GMT
What could be the cause of its rarity, to you? Do you have any idea?
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Post by sebbe67 on Jan 26, 2007 9:37:43 GMT
What could be the cause of its rarity, to you? Do you have any idea? Well, some species are naturally rare (especially many insects), they may depend upon very only one type of habitat in a very restricted area. Habitat lost could be another reason why it has been recored so rarely, may have been more common in the past. |
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Post by Bowhead Whale on Jan 26, 2007 19:12:05 GMT
Just like the Devil's Hole Bluefish.
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Post by surroundx on May 5, 2012 5:02:00 GMT
" Deloneura immaculata Trimen, 1868 Type locality [SA: EC]—‘Bashee River, Kaffraria’. Common name Bashee River Buff, Mbashe-geelvlerkie (A). Status Extinct [EX]. Distribution SA: EC—this insect has been recorded only from a single, fairly remote and obscure locality near Fort Bowker, overlooking the Mbashe River; Holt (1955) mentions this fort. ECOLOGYRange & population Only three female specimens have ever been collected, all at the type locality. Habitat Described as a wooded area along the steep banks of the Mbashe River in the present Eastern Cape. The habitat was possibly in the ecotone between what is now referred to as Eastern Valley Bushveld (of the Sub-Escarpment Savanna Bioregion) and Mthatha Moist Grassland (of the Sub-Escarpment Grassland Bioregion) (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). It is not known how much change the type locality has undergone since 1863. Habits The first specimen was collected on 27 December 1863, and the other two during the remaining days before 1 January 1864. The species has not been seen again, notwithstanding the fact that its discoverer, Colonel J.H. Bowker, remained camped in the area for several months. He himself described the insect as very rare, and only appearing for a few days. In addition, he stated that specimens were also most difficult to procure, owing to their habit of ‘whirling slowly with flapping wings round the tops of trees, rising and falling, sailing away and returning’. He was struck by its resemblance to the ‘yellow tree-moth’, which is common in the forests of the area. This is the type species of the genus Deloneura, which is purely Afrotropical, and now consists of six species and two subspecies. Only one further species (D. millari millari Trimen) is known to occur in South Africa, and its sedentary habits make it difficult to find, notwithstanding the fact that it is known to occur along the entire eastern coastal region, from Kouga northwards. Individuals of this genus sit for long periods, feeding on the secretions of honeydew from the abdomens of coccids (Hemiptera), and seldom fly unless disturbed, when they normally return quickly to the depths of the foliage. Such habits may account for the many failed attempts by collectors to rediscover D. immaculata for more than 140 years. Of the three known specimens, two are in the South African Museum (SAM) in Cape Town, and one is in The Natural History Museum (BMNH) in London. Early stages Unknown. RATIONALEThis taxon was listed as Extinct in S.F. Henning & G.A. Henning (1989) and G.A. Henning & S.F. Henning (1992b). THREATSThe species is presumably extinct, so there are no threats. The disappearance of Deloneura immaculata is possibly a case of extinction due to natural habitat change, although the mechanisms of such change are not understood. However, adults of Deloneura species are often very sedentary and there is extensive poorly investigated riverine forest in the Eastern Cape. Furthermore, a number of insect taxa thought to be extinct in South Africa have recently been rediscovered, stressing the role of field work in determining the conservation status of species considered to be of conservation concern (J. Ball, pers. comm.). CONSERVATIONNo conservation measures are required as no locality is known. Further systematic searching in suitable habitat is needed." www.sanbi.org/sites/default/files/documents/documents/biodiversity13butterflies.pdf (pp. 28-29) |
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Post by surroundx on May 5, 2012 8:37:01 GMT
Photographs of the two specimens found in the South African Museum (SAM) collection can be found on page 116 of the paper hyperlinked to in the post immediately above this one.
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Post by Melanie on May 5, 2012 14:44:42 GMT
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Post by Melanie on May 7, 2012 10:20:55 GMT
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Post by surroundx on Jul 20, 2013 4:29:42 GMT
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Post by koeiyabe on Jan 31, 2016 0:12:01 GMT
"Extinct Entomological Data File (in Japanese)" by Toshio Inmate (2002)  |
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Post by surroundx on Mar 26, 2016 9:35:30 GMT
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