Integrative Taxonomic Characterization and first DNA Barcoding of Chrysozephyrus syla (Kollar, [1844]) and C. birupa (Moore, 1877) for Indian species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Genus Chrysozephyrus Shirôzu & Yamamoto, 1956 (Tribe: Theclini) contains species with high morphological plasticity, often complicating accurate identification. This study provides an integrative taxonomic assessment of C. syla (Kollar, [1844]) and C. birupa (Moore, 1877) based on specimens from the Himachal Pradesh region of the Indian Himalayas. Significantly, this investigation provides the first formal description and illustration of the female genitalia of C. birupa, alongside the first comprehensive illustrations of both male and female genitalia for C. syla. To supplement these morphological findings, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences were generated, representing the first global DNA barcoding data for these species. Molecular analysis revealed a characteristic A + T bias (average 70.3%), consistent with Lepidoptera mitochondrial evolution. Preliminary phylogenetic reconstruction using Maximum Likelihood confirms the placement of these Indian taxa within the Theclini clade, showing low intergeneric genetic distances (5.0-6.5%) that align with recent genomic hypotheses suggesting potential synonymy within the Hypaurotis Scudder, 1876 group. These findings provide essential morphological and molecular baselines for rare high-altitude Lycaenidae and underscore the importance of integrating genital morphology with molecular tools for resolving the complex systematics of the tribe.