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Butterfly Species Named for Iryna Zarutska After Charlotte Light-Rail Killing

Her family says the dedication carries deep meaning in Ukrainian culture.

Overview

  • Entomologist Harry Pavulaan formally described Celastrina iryna, known as Iryna’s Azure, in a September report.
  • Pavulaan said he changed a previously planned name after seeing video of the Aug. 22 attack and later shared his paper and framed specimens with the family.
  • The species is primarily observed in April in South Carolina and features light-blue wings that can show a violet tint, according to the description.
  • A federal grand jury has indicted Decarlos Brown Jr. in connection with the killing under statutes covering violence against a railroad carrier, with potential death-penalty exposure.
  • North Carolina enacted Iryna’s Law to tighten pretrial release rules for alleged violent offenders following the case.