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, P. e. 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.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. The caterpillar of the species feeds on saltgrass (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