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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (Papilionoidea) » Skippers (Hesperiidae) » Giant Skippers (Megathyminae) » Megathymus » Yucca Giant-skipper (Megathymus yuccae)

Species Megathymus yuccae - Yucca Giant-skipper

Classification · Other Common Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae Yucca Giant Skipper - Megathymus yuccae Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies)
Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)
Subfamily Megathyminae (Giant Skippers)
Genus Megathymus
Species yuccae (Yucca Giant-skipper)
Other Common Names
Yucca Skipper
Size
Wingspan 4.8-7.9 cm.
Identification
A very large and robust skipper. Variable, dark brown with frosty marking on wing margin.

Caterpillar is light tan with reddish brown head (1)
Range
Across southern United States, including southwest and southeast, also northern Mexico.
Habitat
Dry areas with hostplant (Yucca). In eastern North America this is usually pine flats and coastal dunes.
Season
March-April (one brood)
Life Cycle
Larvae feed on yucca.
Remarks
A spectacular species.
Print References
Brock, p. 358 (2)
Glassberg, p. 202, plate 71 (3)
Scott, p. 417, plate 57 (4)
Internet References
Butterflies of North America
RLE Photo
Works Cited
1.Butterflies of Florida Field Guide (Our Nature Field Guides)
By Jaret C. Daniels
2.Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
By Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman
3.Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East
By Jeffrey Glassberg
4.The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide
By James A. Scott
Contributed by Cotinis on 10 May, 2004 - 12:37pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason
Last updated 22 June, 2006 - 8:42am

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