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Alaena margaritacea

Assessor: Dave Edge

Sensitive in 2010
Yes
Family
Lycaenidae
Exploitation extent
None - this species and its close relatives are not exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner.
Population vulnerability
Population is vulnerable: size is <= 2500 mature individuals OR the number of known subpopulations is <= 5 OR range is <= 100km2 OR species at risk of localised extinctions
Justification and references

A full conservation assessment of this taxon was done according to IUCN methodology and it was Red Listed as "Critically Endangered". The results are published in:

MECENERO, S., BALL, J.B., EDGE, D.A., HAMER, M.L., HENNING, G.A., KRÜGER. M., PRINGLE, E.L., TERBLANCHE, R.F. & WILLIAMS, M.C. (eds) 2013. Conservation assessment of butterflies of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Red List and Atlas. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Saftronics (Pty.) Ltd. & Animal Demography Unit. 676 pp.

The red listing also appears on SANBI's Red List website:

http://speciesstatus.sanbi.org/assessment/last-assessment/751/

Regeneration potential
This species has a slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.
Justification and references

It can be seen by studying the references that this butterfly has always had a restricted range and it is never found in great numbers. It can be inferred that it has a slow population growth rate and would not be able to withstand exploitation.

MECENERO, S., BALL, J.B., EDGE, D.A., HAMER, M.L., HENNING, G.A., KRÜGER. M., PRINGLE, E.L., TERBLANCHE, R.F. & WILLIAMS, M.C. (eds) 2013. Conservation assessment of butterflies of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Red List and Atlas. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Saftronics (Pty.) Ltd. & Animal Demography Unit. 676 pp.

PRINGLE, E.L.L., HENNING, G.A. & BALL, J.B. 1994. Pennington's butterflies of southern Africa. 2nd edn. Struik Winchester, Cape Town. 800 pp.