Gray Cracker
Hamadryas februa (Hübner, [1823])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Biblidinae
Identification: Upperside is mottled brown and white; forewing cell bar with some red; hindwing eyespots have orange scales before the black crescents. Underside of hindwing is white; submarginal eyespots are composed of a brown ring around a black crescent in a white center.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 3/8 inches (7 - 8.6 cm).
Life History: Adults rest on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open. Males perch on trees and make a cracking sound when they dart out at passing insects (and people). Eggs are laid singly under leaves or sepals of the host plant; caterpillars are solitary and build resting platforms out of dung pellets. Before dark, adults gather on a single tree, then disperse to roost in nearby trees or shrubs.
Flight: Many flights; throughout the year in the tropics, August-October in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vines (Dalechampia) and herbs (Tragia) in the family Euphorbiaceae.
Adult Food: Sap and rotting fruit.
Habitat: Subtropical forest and edges, cultivated areas with trees.
Range: Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for a rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 57 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 09, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Petén, Guatemala
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 21, 2025
Observation date: Nov 02, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 29, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 21, 2024
Observation date: Aug 21, 2011
Submitted by: suzela
Region: Toledo District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 30, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 10, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Feb 20, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 12, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 14, 2018
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 06, 2017
Submitted by: jartigas59
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: titusBamona
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Feb 11, 2016
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Nov 05, 2019
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Nov 04, 2019
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Oct 17, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Dec 06, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Nov 07, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 11, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 18, 2016
Submitted by: JohnBoback
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
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