This species is listed as Least Concern on the basis that, although it is expected to have a strongly restricted (but undefined) area of occupancy and is confined to an area close to extensive habitat transformation, its remaining habitat is protected, it is fairly common, and it is consequently not at immediate risk of extinction. Environmental conditions over the past decade have however been unfavourable and research is recommended to obtain updated information on its population status to ensure that it does not qualify for listing in a higher category in future.

This species has a restricted distribution in a southeast coastal area of the Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa (Davis et al. 2020). Material is known from the type locality, Alexandria Forest Station, and from a subpopulation from Cape St. Francis which appears to be the same species (Davis et al. 2020). The two known localities lie at sea level and 123 m asl (Davis et al. 2020). It is likely to be confined to the Eastern Cape, as it is replaced elsewhere by other species. Both sites have appreciably higher rainfall than the remainder of the area and it may be localised to areas of high rainfall (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). If, as suggested by available data, it is a specialist in shaded vegetation on deep sand there are few other suitable localities on the Eastern Cape (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

This species is fairly common in Alexandria Forest (C. Deschodt and G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). The type series contained 47 individuals (Davis et al. 2020). More recently, 20 were collected from traps baited with pig dung in January 2012 (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023) and eight were found in January-February 2021 (G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). Three specimens are known from Cape St. Francis (Davis et al. 2020).

The type series of this flightless species was collected from leaf litter in native forest (Southern Coastal Forest). It has since been found using pitfall traps in forest (C. Deschodt and G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). It has also been collected from thicket (Algoa Dune Strandveld) in Cape St. Francis (Davis et al. 2020). Both sites are on deep sand. These data suggest that the species exhibits a preference for, and may be endemic to, shaded habitats on deep sand (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). It has been sampled from pig dung (Davis et al. 2020). It has been recorded from December to February (C. Deschodt and G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023) and is presumed to be diurnal (Davis et al. 2020). Mean annual rainfall at the known localities is 441 and 482 mm, and mean annual temperature is 17.1 and 17.7 °C based on 5x5 km cells (Davis et al. 2020). At the scale of 1x1 km cells mean annual rainfall is around 750 (Cape St. Francis) and 8-900 mm (Alexandria), elsewhere in the region it is mostly below 500 mm (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

It is likely that this species is specialised to shaded habitat within forest and thicket, but nothing is reported of any threats and both localities are protected (Davis et al. 2020). Climate modelling predicts that both sites will retain suitable habitat at least as far into the future as 2100 in the absence of human disturbance (Daniel et al. 2021). The species' habitat should consequently be secure so long as its habitat remains protected (G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). Alexandria Forest is a popular destination for birdwatching tourism, and is consequently likely to remain well-protected for the immediate future (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). However, drought conditions over the past decade have resulted in a decline in vegetation cover in this forest and C. Deschodt (pers. comm. 2025) reports that there has been less vegetation every year in surveys across three consecutive years. It is unclear whether this has so far impacted the population, but if not it may be affected in future should these conditions persist. The species is nonetheless likely to have a strongly restricted area of occupancy, as both known subpopulations occur in areas that Google Earth imagery indicates are fully isolated by farmland transformed due to cultivation.

There is no known use of or trade in this species.

This species occurs within the Greater Addo Elephant National Park (Davis et al. 2020), although only 5% of the original forest cover around Alexandria is formally protected (Chrislin Lodge 2019). Research on vegetation and soil associations is needed to clarify occupancy patterns, and surveys of forest patches and dense fynbos along the southeastern coast (particularly on deep coastal sands) is needed to clarify whether it is more widespread. It is unclear whether it would occur in any of these as they mostly lie in lower rainfall areas, though some may exist west of Cape Francis and on the Gqeberha promontory (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).