Megathymus yuccae

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]

Megathymus yuccae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Hesperiidae
Genus:
Megathymus
Species:
M. yuccae
Binomial name
Megathymus yuccae
(Boisduval & Leconte, 1837)
Subspecies
  • Megathymus yuccae harbisoni
  • Megathymus yuccae arizonae
  • Megathymus yuccae reubeni
  • Megathymus yuccae louiseae
  • Megathymus yuccae wilsonorum
Synonyms

Eudamua yuccae (Boisduval & LeConte, 1834)

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 48–79 mm (1.9–3.1 in). 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.

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References
  1. "Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae (Boisduval & Leconte, (1837))". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  2. Pavulaan, Harry (Summer 2003). "Searching for the elusive Megathymus yuccae" (PDF). News of the Lepidopterists' Society. Los Angeles. 45 (2): 48–49.


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