Yucca
Guides
Megathyminae
giant skippers, yucca giant skippers
Megathyminae is a subfamily of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, commonly known as giant skippers. These are among the largest skippers, characterized by robust bodies, relatively small wings for their body size, and a strong association with succulent plants. The group contains approximately 20 species distributed primarily in arid regions of North America. Larvae are endophagous, feeding internally within the stems or roots of host plants, particularly yuccas and agaves.
Paraphidippus basalis
Agave Jumping Spider
Paraphidippus basalis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Agave Jumping Spider. It is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species exhibits a notable ecological specialization, being strongly associated with rosette-forming plants including agaves, sotols, and yuccas. This degree of plant-specific habitat association is uncommon among jumping spiders, which are typically generalist predators.
Plagiostira albonotata
white-marked shieldback
Plagiostira albonotata, commonly known as the white-marked shieldback, is a species of shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is a large, robust katydid found in arid regions of the southwestern United States. The species is characterized by distinctive white markings on its body. Observations indicate activity during summer months in desert and semi-desert habitats.
shield-backed-katydidOrthopteraTettigoniidaedesertsouthwestern-United-Statesnocturnalbrachypterouskatydidinsectarid-habitatyucca-associationsummer-activitywhite-markingslarge-body-sizePlagiostiriniTettigoniinaeNew-MexicoArizonaUtahwest-Texassand-dunesdesert-scrubcrepuscularlimited-flightScudder-1876Plagiostira-albonotatawhite-marked-shieldbackEnsiferaTettigoniideaTettigonioideaHexapodaArthropodaInsectaAnimaliaEukaryotaMetazoagrasshoppers,-crickets-&-katydidsPlagiostira28-observationsiNaturalistGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-TaxonomyWikipediaBeetles-In-The-Bush2018-New-Mexico/Texas-Insect-Collecting-TripTed-C.-MacRaeJeff-HuetherJune-2–9,-2018southeastern-New-MexicoMescalero-Sand-DunesKermit,-TexasHwy-380San-AntonioBinghamSandia-MountainsWalking-Sands-Rest-AreaValley-of-Fire-National-Recreation-AreaSierra-Blanca-MountainsSunset,-New-MexicoHobbs,-New-MexicoKermit-Sand-DunesI-10-Rest-AreaFabens,-TexasCarlsbad,-New-MexicoLoco-Hills,-New-MexicoCarrizozo,-New-MexicoBingham,-New-MexicoSocorro,-New-MexicoThe-BoxyuccaProsopis-glandulosamesquiteOpuntia-imbricatachollaJuniperus-monospermajuniperSapindus-drummondiisoapberryAcacia-greggiicatclaw-acaciaAcacia-rigidablack-acaciaThelespermaDaleaPenstemonRobiniaCeltisGaillardiaOenetheraBaccharisSphaeralceaEphedraCacamacactus-dodger-cicadaTragidion-armatumPrionus-arenariusPrionus-palparisPrionus-integerPolyphyllaMoneilemacactus-beetleGyascutusAcmaeoderaChrysobothrisAgrilusEnoclerusActenodesParatyndarisAcmaeoderopsisBrachysNeoclytusCleridaeCerambycidaeBuprestidaeScarabaeidaeCarabidaeTenebrionidaeMeloidaeCoreidaePompilidaetarantula-hawkCicindelidaeCylindera-lemniscatatiger-beetleLycaenidaeBrephidium-exiliswestern-pygmy-blueEchinargus-isolaReakirt's-blueshieldbackdesert-insectnocturnal-insectbrachypterous-insectsummer-insectarid-land-insectyucca-associated-insectNew-Mexico-insectArizona-insectUtah-insectTexas-insectsouthwestern-US-insectNorth-American-insectNearctic-insectTettigoniidae-insectOrthoptera-insectEnsifera-insectTettigoniinae-insectPlagiostirini-insectPlagiostira-insectP.-albonotatawhite-marked-shieldback-katydidgiant-katydidlarge-katydiddesert-katydidsand-dune-katydidyucca-katydidnocturnal-katydidbrachypterous-katydidsummer-katydidScudder's-katydid1876-katydidOrthopterankatydid-speciesshieldback-speciesTettigoniidae-speciesPlagiostira-speciesdesert-speciesarid-speciesnocturnal-speciesbrachypterous-speciessummer-speciesNew-Mexico-speciesArizona-speciesUtah-speciesTexas-speciessouthwestern-US-speciesNorth-American-speciesNearctic-speciesProdoxus
Bogus Yucca Moths
Prodoxus is a genus of moths in the family Prodoxidae comprising approximately 22 species, commonly known as bogus yucca moths. Unlike their pollinating relatives in the genus Tegeticula, Prodoxus species are non-pollinating yucca moths that exploit yucca plants as hosts without providing mutualistic services. The genus exhibits diverse feeding specializations, with larvae feeding on yucca flowering stalks, fruits, or leaves depending on the species. Host-associated divergence and incipient speciation have been documented, with specialization closely tied to host plant shifts.
Tegeticula yuccasella
yucca moth, Eastern Yucca Moth
Tegeticula yuccasella is a small moth in the family Prodoxidae, first described by Charles Valentine Riley in 1872. It is the nominate species of the T. yuccasella species complex, a group of obligate pollinators of yucca plants (Yucca spp.). The moth engages in active pollination behavior unique among Lepidoptera: females collect pollen with specialized tentacle-like mouthparts and deliberately deposit it on yucca stigmas to ensure fruit set before laying eggs. Larvae feed exclusively on developing yucca seeds. Recent systematic revision has split this formerly broadly-defined species into multiple distinct species, with T. yuccasella sensu stricto associated primarily with eastern North American yucca hosts.
Tragidion armatum
Tragidion armatum is a longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults exhibit bright orange and black coloration that mimics tarantula hawk wasps (Pompilidae: Pepsis, Hemipepsis). The species breeds in dead flower stalks of Yucca and Agave plants. It was described by LeConte in 1858, with T. armatum brevipenne later synonymized under it.