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Species Megathymus yuccae - Yucca Giant-skipper - Hodges#4145

Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - female Yucca Giant-skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-Skipper - Megathymus yuccae - female Yucca Giant-Skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male Yucca Giant-Skipper - Megathymus yuccae Yucca Giant-Skipper - Megathymus yuccae Megathymus yuccae browni - Megathymus yuccae Yucca Giant-Skipper - Megathymus yuccae - male
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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)
Subfamily Megathyminae (Giant Skippers)
Genus Megathymus
Species yuccae (Yucca Giant-skipper - Hodges#4145)
Hodges Number
4145
Other Common Names
Yucca Skipper
Explanation of Names
Megathymus yuccae (Boisduval & Le Conte, [1837])
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
mostly se & sc US to n. Mex. - MAP - MPG
Habitat
Dry areas with hostplant (Yucca). In eastern North America this is usually pine flats and coastal dunes.
Season
mostly: Mar-Jun (but records from Jan-Nov) - MPG
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
Works Cited
1.Butterflies of Florida Field Guide (Our Nature Field Guides)
Jaret C. Daniels. 2003. Adventure Publications.
2.Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co.
3.Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East
Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999. Oxford University Press.
4.The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide
James A. Scott. 1992. Stanford University Press.