| Chequered Blue | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Pseudophilotes |
| Species: | P. vicrama |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudophilotes vicrama (Moore 1865) |
|
The Chequered Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)[1] is a small butterfly found from Asia[2][3], east to Tian Shan and parts of China, west to the Balkan, Turkey, eastern Europe to southern Finland. that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.
Contents |
The butterfly was earlier known as Polyommatus vicrama (Staudinger)[2].
In Asia, it is found in South Asia from India (Himachal Pradesh) westwards to Balochistan and Chitral in Pakistan.[2].
Wynter-Blyth records the Chequered Blue as Not Rare locally and occurring in Baluchistan and from Chitral to Shipki La.[4]
As per Savela, the butterfly is found in the Pamirs - Alay Mountains, Ghissar - Darvaz, Tian-Shan, north-west India south-eastEurope, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Transcaucasia, western Siberia, Altai, Turan and Kopet-Dagh.[3]
The Chequered Blue is 20 to 26mm in size. The male butterfly is pale dusky-blue in colour with a broad border while the female is brown. The butterfly is named for its prominent chequered fringe.[4]