| 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]
