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
Jacqueline L Raw, Nelson Mandela University In the past, wetlands were often seen as undesirable landscapes – waterlogged areas that were difficult to navigate, impossible to build on or farm, and a source of pests such as mosquitoes. But the … Read more
A tractor is the most suitable vehicle for transporting equipment, water tanks and people over this kind of terrain The Friends of Verloren Valei executive committee is committed to raising the necessary funds to purchase a second-hand tractor, desperately needed … Read more
De Berg’s spectacular landscapes (Photograph: Hannes Marais) The big news is that De Berg Nature Reserve was designated a Ramsar site on 2 February 2024—World Wetlands Day. Northam Platinum created the reserve in fulfilment of some of the conditions of … Read more
BirdLife Africa’s Dr Kyle Lloyd outlines the case of the White-winged Flufftail. In honour of World Wetlands Day this month, Dr Kyle Lloyd, Wetland Conservation Project Manager and Rockjumper Fellow of White-Winged Flufftail Conservation, presented a webinar on the current … Read more
It’s all about collecting data to identify long-term trends in the butterfly world—and in the process about biodiversity generally. A new app aims to gather important data on butterflies and moths. The Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (LepSoc Africa) is collaborating … Read more
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
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
Editor’s Note: New research is looking at how Blue Cranes are colonising a new ecosystem — farmland in the Western Cape. The removal of fynbos seems to play a role, which correlates to the view that cranes don’t like bushy … Read more
Alan Lee, Ian Davies, and Carrie Seltzer profile iNaturalist, eBird and the African Bird Atlas Project. With a limited number of conservationists and ornithologists across Africa, the importance of the contributions of citizen scientists to our understanding of birds cannot … Read more
