The Yucca Giant-skipper

[trehopr1]

Now here's something that you don't see everyday
in personal collections. This is America's Yucca
giant-skipper (Megathymus yuccae). My lone female
was acquired via the parting out of another collection.

This species is said to be a rare early season species
which is widespread across our southern states. It
may be observed in deserts, foothills, and woodlands
where its larval foodplant (yucca of various species) grows.
Apparently, 5 subspecies of this marvelous skipper have
been named.



As we "small game" hunters know skippers in general
have a strong, erratic, and highly energized flight reflex.
So, one can only imagine a species of this size (50-80mm)
must surely be a "whirl" of motion at best when seen briefly
sitting.

My sorted research has brought up a curious mention of sorts.
It is said that the adults do not feed but, that males do imbibe
nutrient salts at mud puddle situations.

Hard for me to believe these don't pollinate to replenish their
fat reserves. I've certainly observed our rather large and common
Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) regularly visiting a
variety of flowers with wreck-less abandon !

I suppose one of our Hesperiid enthusiasts or specialists could
clarify whether this notation in literature has validity.

A grand species of the skipper world to be sure.

[evra]

They are a neat butterfly, and even quite a bit different than the more common members of Agathymus which congregate at mud. Males are very territorial and stake out areas along creekbeds and generally perch on rocks and are very hard to see when resting. Usually you spook them and they take off and fly in 3-4 50 yard circles before landing again, usually in the exact same, or very close to, their original perch. Their wings make a distinctive clicking noise as they fly. They are very hard to sneak up on, and usually your net rubs off the thoractic vestiture when you do manage to net one. Most people try to find the larvae in the yucca plants and rear them, but that’s not easy either. Even though they are good-sized, they fly so fast that it’s basically just a blur going by making a clicking noise. Netting one out of the air is effectively impossible. On a good day you might see 3-4 at the peak of the season.

[papiliotheona]

They live entirely off of stored larval fat like Saturniidae. I know of no credible reports of either Agathymus or Megathymus taking anything but mud. I guess I don't know what Turnerina in Mexico does, but I would be surprised if they do more than take water/mud (there are photos of that).

Why don't you go look for some larval tents right now? In lowland Arizona, they have begun to pupate and should be all done by the 10th of February or so.

[rayrard]

I reared one specimen from a yucca dug up with the larval tent visible, and that is the only one I have in my collection. Mine is a male. This is a tough one to spread as it is very muscular and the hindwings wings love to pop out