This species is listed as Data Deficient on the basis that it is known from two localities in an area where between a quarter and more than a third of the natural habitat has been lost, but although it is expected to be associated with shaded vegetation the precision of one of the available records is insufficient to determine whether it is exposed to these impacts.

Although one known locality lies close to the border with Eswatini this species is currently regarded as endemic to South Africa, where it is known from only two localities along the northeast escarpment (Davis et al. 2020). One of these, Ohrigstad (the type locality), is probably inexact: this site is a town surrounded by cultivation, but with natural vegetation in nearby hills. The other is from a farm named Goedehoop (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023) in Mpumalanga. It may range along the escarpment, but as its vegetation associations are unclear it is not possible to infer a range between the two sites (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). It is likely to be localised within the vegetation units from which it has been recorded, especially in KaNgwane Montane Grassland as the species is unlikely to occur outside shaded vegetation (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). It is unclear whether the Ohrigstad record was in a more continuously wooded area. It has been recorded at 1,181 and 1,382 m asl (Davis et al. 2020).

This species is known from nine individuals collected 40 years apart (in 1962 and 2002) (Davis et al. 2020). It is not clear whether this represents true rarity or is a collection artefact perhaps linked to habitat specialisation (Davis et al. 2020) to shaded habitats.

This species has been recorded from humus (holotype) and from topsoil beneath (remaining non-type material) decaying cabbage tree leaf litter (Cussonia). The probably inexact type locality maps to a savanna vegetation unit, Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld. The remaining known material was record from the farm Goodehoop, beneath leaf litter in a patch of shruub/woodland thicket within highveld grassland of the KaNgwane Montane Grassland vegetation unit (Davis et al. 2020).

Mean annual rainfall at the two known localities is 870 and 879 mm, and mean annual temperature is 16.2–17.4 °C (Davis et al. 2020). It has been collected in November and March (during the summer rainy season) (Davis et al. 2020).

Its dietary preferences are unknown, but it was not attracted to pitfall traps baited with cattle dung (Davis et al. 2020) in the 2002 survey. Although several Sarophorus species are known to come to dung their habits are unknown, and it is possible that it may feed on fungus or directly on decaying plant material (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). Two other species have been sampled from carrion (chicken liver) (G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023).

This species' restricted known distribution and apparent association with wooded patches within it suggest that it might be sensitive to human impacts (Davis et al. 2020). It is known only from two vegetation units characterised as vulnerable by Mucina and Rutherford (2006). Ohrigstad lies within a vegetation unit that has lost 25% of its original vegetation to subsistence agriculture while remaining natural vegetation is subject to a high level of degradation, which may impact this species if the record is accurate (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). The Goedehoop record was taken along a hiking trail within a vegetation unit that has lost 36% of its natural vegetation to forest plantations (30%) and cultivation (6%) (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). Plotting of the presumed Ohrigstad locality places it directly within a plantation (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). Satellite imagery suggests there is seemingly good vegetation slightly to the north including extensive possible woodland (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023), however this could be eucalypt (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

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

This species is not known from any protected areas. Research is required to clarify this species' distribution and occupancy patterns and to determine its ecological requirements, including if possible the food associations of the genus as a whole.