Phengaris xiushani
Encyclopedia
Phengaris xiushani is a species of butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...

 of the Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...

 family. It is only known from Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...

 in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

.

The forewing length is 21 mm for males. The female is similar, but slightly larger and the black margins of both wings are well developed.

The species occurs together with Phengaris atroguttata
Phengaris atroguttata
The Great Spotted Blue is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar, and China that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-Range:It is found in Nagaland and the Chin Hills of Myanmar. Rare.-Description:...

in one locality, which is probably their usual habitat within undisturbed forested mountains.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the beautiful mountain on the slopes of which it was found (Xiu-Shan in Chinese means “beautiful mountain”), and to Dr. Xiushan LI who brought the two authors of this description together and who has committed much of his life to research
on ecology and conservation of butterflies.

External links

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