Plebejus christophi, Staudinger, 1874

Krupitsky, A. V. & Li, Z .., 2024, Notes on the Plebejus christophi (Staudinger, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) species group of China, with a description of a new species from the Eastern Tian Shan, Russian Entomological Journal 33 (1), pp. 102-109 : 109

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF P. CHRISTOPHI GROUP OF MONGOLIA AND NORTHWESTERN CHINA

1. Submarginal lunules of ventral side of hindwing widely separated from postdiscal line of spots .......................... 2

– Submarginal lunules connected with postdiscal line of spots by white strokes ............................................................. 3

2. Metallic scales of submarginal lunules reduced. Bluish suffusion of dorsal side of hindwing limited by postbasal area in male and basal area in female. Mongolia: Dzungarian and Transaltaian Gobi ............................................................................. P. anikini

– Metallic scales of submarginal lunules well-developed. Bluish suffusion of dorsal side of hindwing extended to postdiscal line in male and postbasal area in female. China: Karlik Mountains ................................................ P. fantomas sp.n.

3. Distance between submarginal lunules of dorsal side of hindwing and spots of postdiscal line larger than size of lunule. Female light blue dorsally. Mongolia: Baitag Mountains ................................................................ P. chrisreai

– Distance between submarginal lunules of ventral side of hindwing and spots of postdiscal line smaller than size of lunule or equal to latter. Female dark brown with more or less developed blue colouration dorsally ....................... 4

4. Fringe checkered only on hindwing.Female dark brown dorsally, with slight basal suffusion of blue scales. Ventrally, wings of both sexes slightly contrasted, ground colour light grey in male and beige in female. Mongolia: southern Mongolian Altai ............................................................................ P. germani

– Fringe checkered on both wings. Female with well-developed blue suffusion dorsally. Ventrally, wings of both sexes strongly contrasted, ground colour grey. China: Qilianshan and Altyntagh Mountains .................................... ....................................... P. nanshanicus comb. et stat.v.