The Yucca Giant-Skipper is a medium-sized butterfly with a stout, robust body. The females are somewhat larger than males. The Male forewings are long and pointed. Females have wider, more rounded forewings. The Wings are brown/black. The underside (ventral) contains two rows of small white spots near the apex and a row of bright yellow spots in the submarginal-marginal regions. Females may have an extra spot band along the wing margin. The forewing above (dorsal) has a bright yellow rounded cell spot and a straight band of submarginal yellow spots near the apex. The hindwing below is black with a marginal frosting of violet-white and a bold white spot along the upper margin. The upperside of the hindwing is black with a yellow border. The antennal clubs are bent near the tip.

 

Licensed under (CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication)

 

Yucca Giant-Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 7/8 – 3 1/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Coastal dunes, open yucca flats, desert canyons, open woodland, grassland, and old fields

 

Yucca Giant-Skipper Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Spanish Bayonet
• Adam’s Needle

Nectar Plants:

• The Yucca Giant-Skippers do not nectar but live off stored fats in their body. The males do take moisture from mud.