Yucca Giant-Skipper
Megathymus yuccae (Boisduval & Leconte, [1837])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Very large and robust. Forewing is long and pointed. Upperside is black; forewing with a yellow band near the lower outer margin and small white spots near the tip and costa; hindwing with a yellow band on the outer margin. Females may have orange-yellow to yellow spots on the hindwing. Underside of hindwing is gray with white spots on the costa.
Wing Span: 1 7/8 - 3 1/8 inches (4.8 - 7.9 cm).
Life History: Adults are very swift fliers. Males perch in the morning near the host plants to await females. Females glue eggs singly to leaves of small host plants. Young caterpillars feed near the tips of leaves and may web together small leaves to make a nest. Older caterpillars bore into the growing point of the plant and feed on the root, making a silk chimney or tent which projects from the growing point. Fully-grown caterpillars overwinter in their burrows and then pupate there in late winter or early spring. The chrysalids are able to move up and down in their burrows.
Flight: One brood from mid-February to mid-May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various yuccas including bear grass (Yucca filamentosa), Small's yucca (Y. smalliana), Spanish dagger (Y. gloriosa), (Y. elata), and (Y. arizonica) and Spanish bayonet (Y. aloifolia).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed, but males take moisture at mud.
Habitat: Coastal dunes, open yucca flats, desert canyons, open woodland, grassland, and old fields.
Range: Western population east to Nebraska and east Texas, south to northern Mexico. Southeastern population: Southeast Virginia south to southern peninsular Florida, west to Arkansas and Louisiana.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Megathymus yucca
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 479 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 05, 2011
Submitted by: Jonathan Batkin
Region: Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 19, 2020
Observation date: Apr 21, 2011
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Mar 26, 2019
Observation date: Apr 13, 2018
Submitted by: John Demko
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2018
Observation date: Apr 09, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Apr 28, 2015
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 03, 2018
Observation date: Mar 17, 2017
Submitted by: Emily Hjalmarson
Region: Jefferson County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 27, 2017
Observation date: Mar 26, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 27, 2017
Observation date: Apr 08, 2016
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 18, 2016
Observation date: Apr 17, 2016
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2016
Observation date: Mar 14, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 25, 2016
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2015
Observation date: Apr 11, 2015
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Decatur County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 13, 2015
Observation date: Jun 19, 2011
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2014
Observation date: Apr 06, 2014
Submitted by: James Lofton
Region: Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 09, 2014
Observation date: Apr 20, 2013
Submitted by: azukoff
Region: Scott County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 25, 2013
Observation date: Apr 27, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 29, 2013
Observation date: Apr 19, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 24, 2013
Observation date: Apr 13, 2013
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
Observation date: Mar 23, 2013
Submitted by: nabaker
Region: Texas, Kimble County, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Mar 27, 2013
Observation date: Mar 10, 2012
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 08, 2012
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 14, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mark Walker)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 18, 2012
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kazuo Inagaki)
Region: Bibb County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 31, 2012
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Bibb County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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