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]
| Pseudocopaeodes eunus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. eunus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudocopaeodes eunus (Edwards, 1881)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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
edit- 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
edit- ^ a b Pseudocopaeodes eunus. The Nature Conservancy.
- ^ a b Pseudocopaeodes eunus. Butterflies and Moths of North America.
- ^ USFWS. Determination of endangered status for the Carson Wandering Skipper. Federal Register August 7, 2002.
- ^ USFWS. Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus Recovery Plan. September 2007.