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Variable Cracker

Hamadryas feronia farinulenta

Photo by pamsai
Published on Project Noah
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9.27, -83.81

Field Notes

Description:

Cracker butterflies are a neotropical group of medium-sized brush-footed butterfly species of the genus Hamadryas. They acquired their common name due to the unusual way that males produce a "cracking" sound as part of their territorial displays.

This genus of butterflies are commonly found throughout South America to Arizona, where at least nine species can be found in Costa Rica.

They spend most of the day perching on trees, boulders, and other such surfaces against which they are camouflaged. Since cracker butterflies have camouflage, they are not poisonous and do not have a chemical defense.

Unlike most butterflies, these species don't feed on nectar. Instead, cracker butterflies feed on rotting fruit, sap from leguminous trees, and animal dung. I always saw them on a hanging bunch of rotting bananas.

Species ID Suggestions

Variable Cracker

Hamadryas feronia farinulenta

Comments (7)

thanks Cheryl, yes the wing pattern looked like lace to me, but was great camouflage on the tree trunks where it rested.
Beautiful pattern on the wings, nice pic!
Hehehe Mark! You should have heard the cracks they made. One flew really close to me and cracked in my ear. Made me jump!
thanks bayucca... thought this was a grey cracker!

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