Plebejus idas nabokovi
Nabokov's Blue, Lupine Blue
Plebejus idas nabokovi is a of the Idas in the . It is named after the novelist and Vladimir Nabokov. This small blue butterfly is part of the Plebejus idas , which shows considerable geographic variation across its range. The subspecies is associated with lupine plants and has been studied in the context of butterfly- and host specialization.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Plebejus idas nabokovi: /ˈpliːbɛ.jəs ˈiː.das nəˈbɑː.kɔ.viː/
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Distribution
Western North America, including parts of the Rocky Mountains and associated ranges. The subspecific epithet honors Vladimir Nabokov's contributions to lepidopterology.
Host Associations
- Lupinus - larval Lupines are the primary plants for Plebejus idas
Human Relevance
Named after Vladimir Nabokov, reflecting his significant contributions to the of Polyommatine . This naming connection highlights the intersection of literature and .
Similar Taxa
- Plebejus acmonBoth are small lycaenid in the same ; P. acmon (Acmon Blue) is more widespread in western North America and differs in pattern details and associations
- Plebejus idas idasNominate ; geographic separation and subtle differences in and coloration distinguish subspecies
- Plebejus melissaFormerly treated as or closely related; Melissa has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision and hybridization studies with P. idas in some regions
More Details
Taxonomic History
The epithet 'nabokovi' was established to honor Vladimir Nabokov's meticulous work on the of , particularly his research on the Plebejus and related polyommatines during his time at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative in the 1940s.
Research Context
Members of the Plebejus idas , including this , have been important study organisms for understanding specialization, hybridization, and the evolution of diet breadth in lycaenid .