Gulf Fritillary vs Yucca Giant-Skipper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Gulf Fritillary Yucca Giant-Skipper
Scientific Name Dione vanillae Megathymus yuccae
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Hesperiidae
Size 60-95 mm wingspan 45-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Beaches & Coastal
Diet Nectar Feeders Root Feeders
Regions North America, Central America, South America Southern and Eastern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Gulf Fritillary

Bright orange wings with black markings above and elongated silver spots below. Despite its name, it belongs to the passion-vine butterfly subfamily.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars are bright orange with black spines to warn predators of chemicals from passion vines.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

One of North America's largest skippers with dark wings spotted in yellow-orange. Its massive caterpillar bores into yucca roots and stems, creating a silk-lined tunnel.

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Did You Know?

The pupa wriggles up through the tunnel before emergence, and empty pupal skins protruding from yucca plants reveal their presence.