Kingdom Animalia Genus Megathymus Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | Family Hesperiidae Scientific name Megathymus yuccae Higher classification Megathymus Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Similar Megathymus, Megathymus streckeri, Butterflies and moths, Erynnis brizo, Thorybes pylades | ||
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.
Contents
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.
Habitat
This butterfly may be seen in deserts, foothills, and woodlands where yucca plants, in which their eggs are laid, occur.
References
Megathymus yuccae Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA