Celastrina iryna
| Celastrina iryna | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Celastrina |
| Species: | C. iryna
|
| Binomial name | |
| Celastrina iryna Pavulaan, 2025
| |
Celastrina iryna, or Iryna's azure, is a butterfly species in the family Lycaenidae,[1][2] named in honor of Iryna Zarutska, who was killed in 2025. Thought to be a hybrid species, the males differ from Celastrina neglecta by their absence of androconia and presence of elongated wing scales, while the females have a nearly immaculate white underside.[1]
The butterfly has been observed in South Carolina's Aiken, Barnwell, Dorchester, Jasper, and Orangeburg counties, as well as in Georgia, northern Florida and Mississippi.[3] The Aiken flight was observed in April, however the species is thought to be multivoltine as it has been observed from April to August in Georgia, for example.[1]
History
Celastrina iryna was originally discovered in the Aiken and Barnwell counties of South Carolina by Ronald Gatrelle in 1985.[4] After Gatrelle's death, Harry Pavulaan inherited his collection and formally described the butterfly in 2025 after further field studies in 2018 and 2019.[4] Pavulaan named the species Celastrina iryna, rather than Celastrina carolina, after the Ukrainian refugee to help bring awareness to her case.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Pavulaan, Harry (September 26, 2025). "A Previously Unrecognized Species of Celastrina from the Southeastern Coastal Plain Region of the United States (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) Named in Honor of the Memory of Iryna Zarutska". The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "Celastrina iryna Pavulaan 2025". ZooBank. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "New butterfly species found in South Carolina named after Iryna Zaruska". Queen City News. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "New butterfly species named after Charlotte stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska". WCNC Charlotte. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "Family of Iryna Zarutska 'profoundly touched' by researcher naming new butterfly species after her". Queen City News. Retrieved October 28, 2025.