Brownish Cracker Hamadryas iphthime (H.W. Bates, 1864)

Family: Nymphalidae

Subfamily: Biblidinae

Identification: Upperside is mottled gray, brown, and white; forewing without a red bar in cell; hindwing submarginal spots with a black center containing a white crescent, then a light blue ring, a narrow brown ring, and finally an outer blue ring.

Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 1/8 inches (7 - 8 cm).

Life History: Eggs are laid singly under leaves of host plant; caterpillars eat leaves and are solitary. 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 perch on a single tree, then disperse to roost in nearby trees or shrubs.

Flight: Throughout the year in the tropics; strayed to Texas in August.

Caterpillar Hosts: Vine Dalechampia in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).

Adult Food: Rotting fruit and other non-floral resources.

Habitat: Openings and trails in wet tropical forest.

Range: Brazil north through tropical America to central Mexico. One stray reported in central 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

Get your 2023 BAMONA Gear!

Visit the BAMONA Shop

Hoodies and t-shirts in two designs!

Advertise with us!

Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.

Thank you!

We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.