Pseudocopaeodes eunus

Pseudocopaeodes eunus
Conservation status
Vulnerable (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Hesperiidae
Genus:	Pseudocopaeodes
Species:	P. eunus
Binomial name
Pseudocopaeodes eunus (Edwards, 1881)
Synonyms
Copaeodes eunus Edwards, 1881 Copaeodes wrightii Edwards, 1882 Copaeodes chromis Skinner, 1919

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,^[1] and Baja California in Mexico.^[2] There are five subspecies.^[3] One, ssp. obscurus, the Carson wandering skipper, is treated as a federally listed endangered species of the United States. As of 2007 there are four known populations.^[4]

This butterfly is brownish to yellowish orange on the upper side and yellowish below. It is 2.5 to 3.2 centimeters in length.^[2]

This species occurs on alkali flats. The caterpillar of the species feeds on saltgrass (Distichlis spicata var. stricta). There is little other information about the biology of the species.^[1]

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

1. ^ ^{a b} Pseudocopaeodes eunus. The Nature Conservancy.
2. ^ ^{a b} Pseudocopaeodes eunus. Butterflies and Moths of North America.
3. ^ USFWS. Determination of endangered status for the Carson Wandering Skipper. Federal Register August 7, 2002.
4. ^ USFWS. Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus Recovery Plan. September 2007.

External links

• P. eunus photos