Higher classification Pseudophilotes | Scientific name Pseudophilotes vicrama Rank Species | |
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Similar Pseudophilotes, Butterflies and moths, Lycaenidae, Butterfly, Eumedonia eumedon | ||
Pseudophilotes vicrama, the eastern baton blue, is a small butterfly found from Asia, east to Tian Shan and parts of China, west to the Balkans, Turkey, eastern Europe to southern Finland. It belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
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Taxonomy
The butterfly was earlier known as Polyommatus vicrama (Staudinger).
Range
In Asia, it is found in South Asia from India (Himachal Pradesh) westwards to Balochistan and Chitral in Pakistan.
Wynter-Blyth records the eastern baton blue as not rare locally and occurring in Baluchistan and from Chitral to Shipki La.
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.
Description
The eastern baton blue is 20 to 26 mm in size. The male butterfly is pale dusky blue with a broad border while the female is brown. The butterfly is named for its prominent chequered fringe.