Breakthrough Lepidoptera discoveries
Residents are encouraged to collect any caterpillar they find, feed it, photograph it as it grows and becomes an adult, recording all of the stages.
DISCOVER the fascinating life of creepy crawly caterpillars and log the details. Avid member of the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa, Steve Woodhall, attended the recent Caterpillar Rearing Group (CRG) report back at the Krantzkloof Conference Centre, hosted by the Kloof Conservancy, in partnership with the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (LepSoc).
The report was given by top moth expert, Hermann Staude, ex-President of LepSoc, who also shared some recent research into the Cycad moths found in our area.
CRG is a LepSoc initiative to learn more about butterfly and moth biology.
Residents are encouraged to collect any caterpillar they find, feed it, photograph it as it grows and becomes an adult, recording all of the stages. Hermann and his team are building a database from these results, with amazing success.
Butterflies and moths (or Lepidoptera) represent a large fraction of Southern African biodiversity.
There are just under 11 000 known species, compared to 950 for the second richest group, birds.
“They spend most of their lives as caterpillars – which is the stage we know least about. Being able to identify the early stages, and the plants most of them feed on, is vital to conserving them,” said Steve.
When CRG started in 2012, only six per cent of local Lepidoptera life histories were known. This has more than doubled to 13 per cent by 2019, with 94 participants submitting nearly 4 000 records to date.
Most contributors are ‘citizen scientists’ with no formal training, but lots of enthusiasm. More than half of those 4 000 records were new to science.
Breakthrough discoveries are resulting from this work.
And the Cycad moths?
Many gardeners hate them because their caterpillars tend to eat their prized specimens. But that is only one species (the common Leopard Magpie).
Hermann showcased rare and specialised members from this group, some of which are critically endangered. “Using insecticide on your Cycads can harm our biodiversity,” said Steve.
Rearing caterpillars is great fun and LepSoc is keen to have more people involved.
Contact info@kloofconservancy.org.za and be put into contact with Hermann and his team.
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