Variable Cracker
Hamadryas feronia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Biblidinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is brown and white, sometimes bluish, with a red bar in the cell; hindwing eyespots are each black with a white center, surrounded by a blue ring. Underside of hindwing is white or tan-white with submarginal black rings.
Wing Span: 2 7/8 - 3 1/4 inches (7.3 - 8.3 cm).
Life History: Adults perch on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open, and males make a cracking noise when they fly. Before dark, adults gather on a single tree, then disperse to roost in nearby trees or shrubs.
Flight: Throughout the year in the tropics, July-December in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vine Dalechampia in the family Euphorbiaceae.
Adult Food: Rotting fruit and other non-floral resources.
Habitat: Tropical forest edges, cutover second growth.
Range: Argentina and Brazil north through tropical America to Mexico. Strays 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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 29 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 28, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2020
Submitted by: David Hilmy
Region: Stann Creek District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Jan 22, 2022
Submitted by: David Hilmy
Region: Stann Creek District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Jan 05, 2023
Submitted by: Christine Harwood
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 27, 2022
Observation date: Jan 19, 2017
Submitted by: Fishaspey
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Dec 23, 2017
Submitted by: wrobins
Region: Tabasco, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2016
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Panamá Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Dec 19, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Jan 03, 2020
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Mar 05, 2015
Submitted by: Paul Tavares
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2021
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2015
Submitted by: tom murray
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
Observation date: Nov 20, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: magnolyah
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jan 19, 2014
Submitted by: Shelley Rutkin
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Feb 13, 2014
Observation date: Aug 04, 2008
Submitted by: sobrien
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 15, 2013
Observation date: Jul 15, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (W. & N. McGuire)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Charles Bordelon)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jul 15, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (W. & N. McGuire)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Charles Bordelon)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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