Cofaqui Giant-Skipper
Megathymus cofaqui (Strecker, 1876)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Tribe: Megathymini
Identification: Forewing is relatively short and blunt. Upperside is black; forewing has a broad yellow band that arches inward to the middle of the costa; hindwing has long hairlike scales at the base. Underside of hindwing is gray with small white spots.
Wing Span: 1 15/16 - 2 7/16 inches (5 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Adults have a swift and strong flight, and rest on the shady side of tree trunks about 3-6 feet above ground. Males probably perch in the morning to wait for receptive females. Females glue eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. The young caterpillar bores into the stem and root and spins a silken tunnel where it feeds and overwinters. A fully-grown caterpillar makes a silken tent which projects from the stalk of the host or from the ground near its base. The tent becomes camouflaged as bits of soil and leaves stick to it, and within, the caterpillar pupates. The chrysalid can move up and down in its burrow.
Flight: One brood in Georgia from July-September; two broods in Florida from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bear grass (Yucca filamentosa), Spanish bayonet (Y. aloifolia), and Small's yucca (Y. smalliana).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed, but males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Coastal dunes, pinewoods, shrubland.
Range: Two isolated populations panhandle, and peninsular Florida.
Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR: 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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 62 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 09, 2022
Submitted by: robert.emond
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2013
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Sumter County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 10, 2022
Observation date: Nov 09, 2022
Submitted by: jamsmif
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: Phil.Delestrez
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Georgia, Talbot County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Georgia, Talbot County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2017
Submitted by: neflodonata
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 03, 2017
Observation date: Sep 12, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Aug 01, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pierre Howard)
Region: Georgia, Taylor County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap (Mike Chapman)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Aug 01, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pierre Howard)
Region: Georgia, Taylor County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap (Mike Chapman)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Sep 12, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Dean Jue)
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Apr 12, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Dean & Sally Jue)
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Oct 13, 2009
Observation date: Jul 24, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kenneth Waldrep)
Region: Monroe County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap (Mike Chapman)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: Jul 02, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: DeKalb County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2008
Observation date: Jul 06, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael Beohm)
Region: Georgia, Talbot County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap (Mike Chapman)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Aug 19, 2007
Submitted by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Aug 31, 2007
Observation date: Aug 06, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael Beohm)
Region: Georgia, Talbot County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Aug 31, 2007
Observation date: Jul 28, 2005
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman (MaryAnn Friedman)
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. Calhoun)
Verified date: Aug 30, 2007
Observation date: Aug 10, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeff Slotten)
Region: Emanuel County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 07, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
- 1 of 3
- next ›