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Home/Species/ Carson Wandering Skipper

Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus

Austin and Emmel, 1998

Carson Wandering Skipper

T1T1 (G3T1) Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
T1T1Global Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.114336
Element CodeIILEP63014
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyHesperiidae
GenusPseudocopaeodes
Other Common Names
Carson wandering skipper (EN)
Concept Reference
Emmel, Thomas C., editor. 1998. Systematics of western North American butterflies. Mariposa Press, Gainesville, Florida. 878 pp.
Conservation Status
Review Date2000-08-28
Change Date2000-08-28
Edition Date2000-08-28
Edition AuthorsSchweitzer, D.F.
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent<100-250 square km (less than about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Based on USFWS documentation as of late 1998 there are about two or three known potentially viable populations remaining but with some chance of a very few more. One other population is probably extirpated or very nearly so. Total occupied habitat is apparently well under 50 hectares for the known populations.
Range Extent Comments
Known historically from four areas in northwestern Nevada and adjacent California.
Occurrences Comments
At present there appear to be two or possibly three potentially viable known occurrences. Another near Carson City Nevada is apprently extirpated or virtually so. Could be a very few more.
Threat Impact Comments
Could be A. Loss of suitably wet habitat to increasing human water demands is a threat. Also threatened by direct habitat loss, exotics and possibly even collecting.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A small skipper.

Diagnostic Characteristics

See original description for the subspecies or any standard butterfly reference for the species. Described as duller, browner, and less orange than other subspecies of this species.

Habitat

Habitat is alkaline desert seeps dominated by saltgrass (Distichlis spicata var. stricta) with a freshwater source, such as hot springs, sufficient to support summer nectar flowers such as a tall white flowered crucifer noted in the original description.
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS1Yes
CaliforniaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - restrictedUnknownUnknown
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge - restrictedUnknownUnknown
11 - Climate change & severe weatherUnknownUnknownLow (long-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationUnknownUnknownUnknown
11.2 - DroughtsUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Roadless Areas (7)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakPlumas National Forest5,283
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Rose - Alum CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest853
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - Hunter EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54
Rose - Hunter WestHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest80
Rose - VerdiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,155
References (7)
  1. Emmel, Thomas C., editor. 1998. Systematics of western North American butterflies. Mariposa Press, Gainesville, Florida. 878 pp.
  2. Pelham, J. P. 2008. A catalogue of the butterflies of the United States and Canada with a complete bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. Volume 40. 658 pp. Revised 14 February, 2012.
  3. Pelham, J.P. 2023. A catalogue of the butterflies of the United States and Canada. Revised 15 February 2023. http://butterfliesofamerica.com/US-Can-Cat.htm
  4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1998. Category and Listing Priority Forms.
  5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2007. Recovery Plan for the Carson Wandering Skipper (<i>Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus</i>). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California/Nevada Operations Office, Sacramento, CA. https://www.fws.gov/nevada/protected_species/inverts/documents/cws/CWS_Final_RecoveryPlan_2007.pdf
  6. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2012. Carson Wandering Skipper (<i>Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus</i>). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and WIldlife Office, Reno, Nevada. 44 pp. https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/tess/species_nonpublish/1946.pdf
  7. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical Corrections for Eight Species of Endangered and Threatened Fish and Wildlife. Federal Register 88(181):64824-64831.