Esakiozephyrus icana (Moore, 1875)

Sharma, Neeraj & Sharma, Shakha, 2021, On the occurrence of three new Lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Jammu and Kashmir, India, Revista Chilena de Entomología (Rev. Chil. Entomol.) 47 (2), pp. 231-235 : 233

Esakiozephyrus icana (Moore, 1875) (Dull-green Hairstreak)

Current known occurrence until this reporting: India (Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, Bhutan ( Varshney & Smetacek 2015; Kehimkar 2016; Singh 2016; Singh & Sondhi 2016; van Gasse 2017; Sondhi & Kunte 2018; Anonymous 2021).

Remarks. On a bright sunny afternoon of 1.ix.2020, we observed a couple of relatively small dark brownish butterflies nectaring on the floral spikes of Persicaria hydropiper (Delabre, 1800) along a mountain trek towards Sunbain, upper Bhaderwah (32ᴼ53′41″ N - 75ᴼ46′40″ E, c. 3246 m), district Doda. The species was photographed and later identified as Esakiozephyrus icana (Moore, 1875) the Dull-green Hairstreak ( Fig. 2 ) after consulting the keys and field guides ( Kehimkar 2008; Varshney & Smetacek 2015; Kehimkar 2016; Sondhi & Kunte 2016, 2018), and the online web resources (https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/ sp/3002/Esakiozephyrus-icana). The species rare in India ( Kehimkar 2016; Sondhi & Kunte 2018), has its western extent of occurrence restricted to Himachal Pradesh ( Evans 1932; Sondhi & Kunte 2018; Anonymous 2021). Our sighting of E. icana is first record of the species from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. As the species is legally protected in India under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the conservation of its habitat is necessitated.

Figures

Figures 2-5. New Lycaenidae records from Jammu and Kashmir, India. 2. Esakiozephyrus icana, 3. Spindasis ictis, 4-5. Tajuria jehana. / Nuevos registros de Lycaenidae de Jammu y Cachemira, India. 2. Esakiozephyrus icana, 3. Spindasis ictis, 4-5. Tajuria jehana.