Guatemalan Cracker
Hamadryas guatemalena (H.W. Bates, 1864)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Biblidinae
Identification: Upper surface is patterned with brown, gray, and tan; outer half of forewing is lighter and there is a red bar in the cell. Upper hindwing has eyespots with a mottled brown and white center circled in blue, then a wide black ring, and outside of that, another blue ring. Underside is tan and white; forewing with a large white spot below apex, hindwing with submarginal black rings.
Wing Span: 3 - 3 7/8 inches (7.6 - 9.8 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly underneath mature leaves of the host plant. Adults perch on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open; males await females and make a cracking noise when they dart out at other insects. Before dark, adults gather on a single tree, then disperse to roost in nearby trees or shrubs.
Flight: All year long in the tropics; August in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vine Dalechampia in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Adult Food: Sap, dung, and rotting fruit.
Habitat: Tropical forest edges, stream valleys, and cutover areas.
Range: Costa Rica north through Central America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for a rare tropical stray.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might 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 39 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 19, 2024
Submitted by: Nick Elf
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 21, 2025
Observation date: Nov 24, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Nov 28, 2024
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 30, 2024
Observation date: Dec 12, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Feb 15, 2012
Submitted by: aizphoto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 13, 2024
Observation date: Jan 19, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Dec 29, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 05, 2023
Observation date: Feb 27, 2016
Submitted by: Ivania Sibrian
Region: Chontales, Nicaragua
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 03, 2023
Observation date: Nov 14, 2018
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Feb 11, 2018
Submitted by: JColeman
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Feb 12, 2016
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 07, 2019
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Mar 27, 2017
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Belize District, Belize
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 15, 2018
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Dec 02, 2016
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 06, 2018
Observation date: Nov 14, 2017
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 06, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 21, 2016
Observation date: Oct 21, 2015
Submitted by: John Peplinski
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 07, 2016
Observation date: Jan 19, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Distrito Federal, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Apr 21, 2014
Observation date: Feb 07, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Apr 21, 2014
Observation date: Oct 14, 2013
Submitted by: tom murray
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Oct 23, 2013
Observation date: Oct 07, 2010
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 10, 2013
Observation date: Jul 24, 2012
Submitted by: Jeniffer_A
Region: San Salvador, El Salvador
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Sep 03, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
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