North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of New Mexico

Ursine Giant-Skipper (Megathymus ursus (incl. violae))
JPG -- species photo

Ursine Giant-Skipper (Megathymus ursus Poling)

Wing span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm).

Identification: Antennal club is white. Upperside is black; forewing has white spots near the apex and a wide band varying from yellow to orange; hindwing has no markings. Underside of hindwing is gray with 2 white spots near the costa.

Life history: Adults have a rapid flight. Females glue eggs singly on leaves of the host. A young caterpillar eats leaf tips and then burrows into the root and makes a tent. Older caterpillars hibernate in their tents and eventually pupate there. Chrysalids can move up and down in their tents.

Flight: One brood from May-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Schott's yucca (Yucca schottii), Arizona yucca (Y. arizonica), banana yucca (Y. baccata), and Torrey's yucca (Y. torreyi).

Adult food: Adults do not feed, but males sip moisture from mud.

Habitat: Grassy shrubland and open yucca-oak woodland.

Range: Rare and local in the mountains of southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, southwest Texas, and northern Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Bailowitz, R. A., and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona. 

     Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. 342 pages.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 

     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 

     University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.



Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 

     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 

     Privately published, Denver, Colo.



Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. 

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Add Toliver, M., Holland, R., and S.J. Cary. 1996. Distributional data

     for New Mexico Butterflies. Privately published. Albuquerque, N.M.

Ursine Giant-Skipper (Megathymus ursus (incl. violae))
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page