Yucca Giant-skipper
Common NameYucca Giant-skipper
Scientific NameMegathymus yuccae
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyMegathyminae
Wingspan (mm)60
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, gray, white
HabitatArid and semi-arid grasslands, open woodlands, and scrublands where Yucca plants are abundant.
Geographic RangeSouthern and central United States, from Florida west to Arizona, and north to parts of Kansas and Missouri, extending into northern Mexico.
Host PlantsYucca filamentosa, Yucca gloriosa, Yucca smalliana, Yucca constricta, Yucca treculeana, Yucca aloifolia, Yucca glauca
Flight PeriodVaries by region, typically late winter to early spring in the south (Feb-Apr) and spring to early summer further north (Apr-Jun).
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae bore into the roots and rhizomes of Yucca plants, feeding internally and constructing silk-lined tunnels. Pupation occurs within the host plant.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its large size for a skipper, stout hairy body, dark wings with prominent white markings on the forewings, and its strong association with Yucca plants. The antennae have a characteristic hooked club.
Description
A large, robust skipper with dark brown to gray-brown wings. The forewings display prominent white, somewhat rectangular or triangular spots, while the hindwings are mostly uniform dark.
