After not having been seen since 1875:
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/02/citizen-science-rediscovers-rare-south-african-moth/
Re one of the observations -
āOrnithologist and conservationist Odette Curtis-Scott, CEO of the Overberg Renosterveld Trust, came across the moth while taking part in the 2021 Great Southern BioBlitz at ORTās research center at Haarwegskloof, some 40 km (25 mi) south of Swellendam.ā
Also, the moths are BEAUTIFUL!
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Yes, I will have to remember this story when trying to encourage people in my local area to get involved in the GSB later this year.
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When you drive across the Overberg, rolling wheatfields. And in between, little pockets - which are too rocky to plough, or too damp with arum lilies in winter, or the roadside verges mown down for āskoon en netjiesā. Amazing that nature survives across nature reserves. They work hard to encourage farmers to set aside valuable habitat for nature conservation. Rewarding many years of hard work and dedication ! Distribution maps on iNat are sometimes down to this little patch wedged in between 3 fields (agri-chemical drift). We were at Tienie Versfeld when the crop-duster was spraying. To the fence line.
And another 500 hectares added Plaatjiekraal (project journal)
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Got to feel sorry for Cameron Scott who uploaded the first one in June 2021 only for an older sighting, 2016, to be added subsequently. I wonder how many other old rarities are sitting in peopleās photo collections waiting to be submitted.
Still, itās a wonderful good news story. Hereās hoping that lots of other cold case files can get reopened.
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The horrible āschoon en netjes / tidy and neatā was imported by the Dutch and Brits to South Africa too eh? Great shame, that.
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