Megathymus yuccae explained

Megathymus yuccae, the yucca giant-skipper, is a rare early season butterfly that is widespread across the southern United States. It belongs in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Megathyminae.^[1]

Description

The upper side of the wings are brown with the forewings having yellow spots. The under side is mainly mottled with black and gray. The wingspan is 48-. Caterpillars feed on Yucca species such as Y. filamentosa, Y. smalliana, Y. gloriosa, Y. elata, Y. arizonica, and Y. aloifolia. Although adults do not feed, males will gather moisture from mud.^[1]

Habitat

This butterfly may be seen in deserts, foothills, and woodlands where yucca plants, in which their eggs are laid,^[2] occur.

External links

• http://www.jeffpippen.com/butterflies/yuccagiantskipper.htm Jeff's Nature Pages
• http://michaelbeohm.tripod.com/id100.html
• http://bugguide.net/node/view/177233/bgimage
• Yucca giant-skipper on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae (Boisduval & Leconte, (1837)) . Butterflies and Moths of North America . 2010-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615132624/http://butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=2189 . 2010-06-15 . dead .
2. Pavulaan. Harry. Summer 2003. Searching for the elusive Megathymus yuccae. News of the Lepidopterists' Society. Los Angeles. 45. 2. 48–49.