Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports — NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network. Pseudocopaeodes eunus is a rare species of butterfly known by the common name alkali skipper. Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus It is native to northern California and Nevada in the United States, and Baja California in Mexico. There are five subspecies. 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. 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.
ITIS Reports — ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
FWS Digital Media Library — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.In the late 1990’s, P. eunus obscurus could be found at three locations: (1) near Carson City, Nevada, (2) at Winnemucca Ranch in Washoe County, Nevada, and (3) near Honey Lake in Lassen County, California. At the first of these, the butterfly appears to have been extirpated due to development and a misguided attempt at wetland restoration.
