Megathymus streckeri texana Barnes and McDunnough, 1912
(Strecker's Giant-Skipper)
Immatures, page 1
Megathymus
streckeri texana is a rarely observed Giant-skipper from the
Edwards Plateau of Texas. These images were taken on 30-Mar-2008 in the
Pedernales Falls State Park, Blanco Co. TX. We are grateful to the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department for the permit #08-02 Rev making the work documented here possible. |
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Two larval tents are located at the base of this small yucca shoot. Area framed in yellow is enlarged below:
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The tents do not extend much above the surface and look like two small humps. Some white webbing may be seen in between the leaves and stones, in particular in the tent 1.
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However, when the tents are opened, obvious tunnels leading underground are revealed. The tunnels are powdered with a white hydrophobic substance secreted by caterpillars.
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A zoom on the tent 1 before it was opened.
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A view from the top. Pupa has moved close to the surface in the second tent.
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A shallow vertical cut through the ground reveals a pupa in the first tunnel.
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Last instar caterpillar was found in one of the tunnels. Excreting large masses of white powdered by the glands on the 10th and 11th segments, it is several days short of pupation.
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