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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 489 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Apr 03, 2012
Submitted by: JKHatfield
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 19, 2012
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Early County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 21, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 2012
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: McMinn County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: May 01, 2012
Submitted by: fbooth7
Region: Bradley County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: May 04, 2012
Observation date: Apr 07, 2012
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 13, 2012
Observation date: Apr 16, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 07, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Peter Herlan)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Leser)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. Lawson)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 08, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. E. Wells)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 13, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. Lawson)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 04, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 20, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 29, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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