All about the Dullstroom Blue

Christopher Willis and David Edge outline the reproductive behaviour of Verloren Valei’s celebrated endemic butterfly. Mating pair of Dullstroom Blue (formerly Warren’s Blue) (Photograph: Christopher Willis) Discovered by RT Warren and his family in 1988-89, and named in their honour, … Read more

The fate of the Brenton Blue sounds a warning

A recent article paints a bleak future for this butterfly—and, by implication, for its fellow rarity, the Dullstroom Blue. Dullstroom Blue (formerly Warren’s Blue)–endemic to Verloren Valei (Photograph: Justin Bode) A recent article in Metamorphosis, the journal of the Lepidopterists’ … Read more

Preying on proteas

As its name suggests, the Northern Orange-banded Protea feeds on protea buds. Northern Orange-banded Protea (upperside) (Photograph: Justin Bode) Capys Alpheus extentsus, the Northern Orange-banded Protea orVerdwaalde Oranjeband Suikerbossie. is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The Capys (Protea butterflies) … Read more

The Natal Silverline challenge

This charming butterfly is rarely recorded on Verloren Valei—who will be next to sight it? Natal Silverline (underside) (Photograph: © Justin Bode) Cigaritis natalensis, Natal Silverline/ Natal Bar(Skitterblou streepvlerkie) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Cigaritis (Silverlines) is a … Read more

Beneath the (butterfly) veil

Butterflies have a reputation for sweetness and light, and are often used as emblems of a benign nature. Not so fast, says butterfly guru, Steve Woodhall. Euchrysops malathana — members of Euchrysops typically have a mutualistic relationship with ants (Photograph: … Read more

The Long-winged Orange Telchinia

Another member of the brush-footed butterfly tribe occurs at Verloren Valei. By Justin Bode Long-Winged Orange Telchinia (underside) (Photograph: © Justin Bode) Telchinia alalonga, Long-winged Orange Telchinia or Long-winged Maber, Langvlerk rooitjie is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, the … Read more

LepSoc field trip: December 2023

Jeremy Dobson reports back on a successful foray into Verloren Valei’s butterfly world. Field trip participants — plus the all-important nets (Photograph: Jeremy Dobson) As you may know, LepSoc Africa (LSA) holds corporate membership of Friends of Verloren Valei (FVV), … Read more