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 25 - 48 of 54 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 07, 2011
Submitted by: Leslie Dilbert
Region: Copán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 22, 2013
Observation date: Feb 29, 2008
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 15, 2012
Observation date: Feb 15, 2011
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: Nov 11, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (F.R. Hedges)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 11, 2011
Observation date: Jul 29, 2008
Submitted by: naomiblinick
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: kimgarwood
Verified date: May 25, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (F.R. Hedges)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Nov 17, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Bordelon)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Charles Bordelon)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Nov 17, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Bordelon)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Charles Bordelon)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: Oct 26, 2007
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen (Kelly Mortensen)
Verified date: Jul 24, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Jan 24, 2008
Observation date: Oct 14, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 17, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Sep 26, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Unknown)
Verified date: Jan 31, 2007
Observation date: Aug 27, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: Jul 13, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Texas, Willacy County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: Aug 03, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: Jul 28, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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