''Pseudocopaeodes eunus'' is a rare species of
butterfly known by the common name alkali skipper. It is native to northern
California and
Nevada in the United States,
[''Pseudocopaeodes eunus''.]
The Nature Conservancy. and
Baja California in Mexico.
[''Pseudocopaeodes eunus''.]
Butterflies and Moths of North America. There are five subspecies.
[USFWS]
Determination of endangered status for the Carson Wandering Skipper.
''Federal Register'' August 7, 2002. One, ssp. ''obscurus'', the Carson wandering skipper, is treated as a federally listed
endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
of the United States. As of 2007 there are four known populations.
[USFWS]
''Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus'' Recovery Plan.
September 2007.
This butterfly is brownish to yellowish orange on the upper side and yellowish below. It is 2.5 to 3.2 centimeters in length.
[
This species occurs on ]alkali flats
A dry lake bed, also known as a playa, is a basin or depression that formerly contained a standing surface water body, which disappears when evaporation processes exceeds recharge. If the floor of a dry lake is covered by deposits of alkaline c ...
. The caterpillar
Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).
As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...
of the species feeds on saltgrass
''Distichlis spicata'' is a species of grass known by several common names, including seashore saltgrass, inland saltgrass, and desert saltgrass. This grass is native to the Americas, where it is widespread. It can be found on other continents a ...
(''Distichlis spicata'' var. ''stricta''). There is little other information about the biology of the species.[
]
Subspecies
*''Pseudocopaeodes eunus eunus''
*''Pseudocopaeodes eunus alinea'' Scott, 1981
*''Pseudocopaeodes eunus chromis'' (Skinner, 1919) (Mexico)
*''Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus'' Austin & Emmel, 1998 (eastern California, Nevada)
*''Pseudocopaeodes eunus flavus'' Austin & Emmel, 1998 (Nevada)
References
External links
''P. eunus'' photos
{{Authority control
Hesperiidae