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HISTORY OF CBISA
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New butterfly species
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Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa
A section 21 Company. Registration No.2005/035451/08. P. O. Box 599, Ramsgate, 4285.
Tel: (039) 314 9307. Fax: 0867427951. Cell: 074 4225 587.
Email address: cbisa@sabutterflies.co.za
Websites: (1) www.sabba.co.za (2) www.butterflyweddings.co.za
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History of CBISA

Where it began for “Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa”

    Aliph Whiteley (originally Aliph Whiteliegh) a descendant from Ireland was one of the first butterfly collectors to come to Africa and explore the richness of its lepidoptera. Concentrating more on the survival of his family, little time was spent on collecting butterflies. He came to South Africa on Safari and never left again. Falling in love with a Dutch lady was not acceptable to the Whiteliegh family. He was cut off and hence forth received no allowance and had to make it on his own. The disgrace was so huge for the Whiteliegh name that he was forced to change his name to Whiteley and sever all ties with any inheritance he may have received. He was murdered by an illegitimate son.

     Arthur Whiteley son of William Whiteley was also a philatelist and spent most of his spare time in his private study working with his stamps. When he wanted a break he would take his sons into the veldt and collect butterflies.  He seldom spoke to anyone as he found it difficult to comprehend light chatter. When he did it was usually with the fist.  His collection of butterflies and stamps were lost in a fire after his wife 'Chappie' died in 1970. He retired to the Village of Happiness, did not like it and moved to a flat in Uvongo and passed away

2nd generation Lepidopterist Athur Whiteley Arthur Whiteley, son of William Whiteley, moved to Glenmore beach late in the 1940,s and had a small tearoom, the first one in the Glenmore adjoining his home there. He later moved to Margate and retired there, teaching both his son’s Deryck and Ian all he knew about butterflies and stamps.  1876 - 1972

Deryck became the leading expert in South Africa on the Pieredae family, one of the nine butterfly families known in South Africa. It was in 1958 that he discovered his first butterfly species called Zophopetes dysmephila. He collected with all the great collectors of the time, Dr. D.A. Swanepoel, Ken Pennington, Clive Quickeburg, Dr. David Edge, Dr. Vari and the like. This collection became world famous and is known as the 'Whiteley Collection'. He lost the collection to the Durban Museum, because of a misunderstanding as to the allowed time period that the collection was housed in the Durban Museum. After the collection was on government property for a period exceeding 90 days, it became the states property. Legal action could have been persude, but there was no funds available to Deryck Whiteley for such a venture.

3rd generation Lepidopterist Deryck E Whiteley Deryck Whiteley, worked as a miner in Harmony mines in Welkom in the Orange Free State. He collected butterflies from the age of 19 with Dr David Swanepoel until the late 1970's. He moved his family to Durban in 1966 and continued collecting while working as a security officer for Barkley's Nation  Bank and then SABC in Old Fort Road. 1930 - 2010

      Earle Whitely became the first conservation breeder of South African butterflies. Although he has collected butterflies from the age of five with his father, accompanying him and other collectors, Dr David Swanepoel, Dr Vari, Dr David Edge, Ivor Migdol, Earnest Pringle, Clive Quickleberg, Dr. Renier Terblanche and the like, he regarded the collecting of specimens as a secondary tool , purely for the identification of species. He became more and more involved with breeding them. Due to this he became well known as the man who speaks to butterflies. He developed the first Butterfly Sanctuary for South African butterflies in Ramsgate and discovered the Ramsgate Piper, named after the town. He also established the 'Butterfly Valley Conservancy' in Ramsgate. He is also the founder of 'Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa' (CBISA),1993  and 'South African Butterfly Breeding Association' (SABBA), 2005.

        Through his breeding programs he has bred many new variations, never seen before. His dedication has led to his discoveries of new butterfly species, as well as other insect species named in his honor by various museums and collectors. He has published several books on butterflies covering a wide range of topics, from collecting to breeding.

4th generation Lepidopterist Earle Whiteley Earle Whiteley came to Durban in 1966 where his collecting of butterflies began in earnest. He moved to Amanzintoti in 1980 and then to the South Coast, Oslo Beach for six months and eventually to Ramsgate where he stayed. Here he married his wife Lizanne and had a girl and boy. Hopes are high that one of his children will develop his passion and become the fifth generation lepidopterist. 1958 - still living

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Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa - Directors: Earle Whiteley, Lizanne Whiteley.
South African Butterfly Breeding Association - Directors: Earle Whiteley, Lizanne Whiteley.