Ursine Giant-Skipper
Megathymus ursus Poling, 1902
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Megathymini
Identification: Antennal club is white. Upperside is black; forewing has white spots near the apex and a wide band varying from yellow to orange; hindwing has no markings. Underside of hindwing is gray with 2 white spots near the costa.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Adults have a rapid flight. Females glue eggs singly on leaves of the host. A young caterpillar eats leaf tips and then burrows into the root and makes a tent. Older caterpillars hibernate in their tents and eventually pupate there. Chrysalids can move up and down in their tents.
Flight: One brood from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Schott\'s yucca (Yucca schottii), Arizona yucca (Y. arizonica), banana yucca (Y. baccata), and Torrey's yucca (Y. torreyi).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed, but males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Grassy shrubland and open yucca-oak woodland.
Range: Rare and local in the mountains of southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, southwest Texas, and northern Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 34 verified sightings
Observation date: May 07, 2025
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 16, 2025
Observation date: Apr 11, 2020
Submitted by: choyt
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: Newmexicobutterflier
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 18, 2011
Submitted by: choyt
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Aug 15, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2006
Submitted by: stevecary (David Ferguson)
Region: Valencia County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 13, 2011
Observation date: Sep 07, 1994
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 07, 1956
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Stallings & Turner)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Greg W Lasley)
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Greg W Lasley)
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 19, 2010
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba (John Saba)
Verified date: Aug 03, 2010
Observation date: Nov 15, 2003
Submitted by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 07, 2007
Observation date: Nov 29, 2003
Submitted by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 07, 2007
Observation date: Nov 16, 2003
Submitted by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 07, 2007
Observation date: Jul 18, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Dave Ferguson)
Region: Valencia County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Dave Ferguson)
Verified date: May 07, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Culberson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Kinney County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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