Hamadryas februa

Hamadryas februa, the gray (or grey) cracker, is a species of cracker butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found from Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico. Rare strays can be found up to the lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. The habitat consists of subtropical forests, forest edges and cultivated areas with trees.

Plate accompanying Hübner's original description

Gray cracker
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Hamadryas
Species:
H. februa
Binomial name
Hamadryas februa
(Hübner, [1823])[1]
Synonyms
  • Ageronia februa Hübner, [1823]
  • Ageronia atinia Fruhstorfer, 1914
  • Ageronia februa sabatia Fruhstorfer, 1916
  • Ageronia februa sellasia Fruhstorfer, 1916
  • Ageronia ferox maina Martin, [1923]
  • Nymphalis ferentina Godart, [1824]
  • Ageronia gudula Fruhstorfer, 1914
  • Ageronia februa icilia Fruhstorfer, 1916
  • Ageronia februa f. sodalia Fruhstorfer, 1916
  • Ageronia februa hierone Fruhstorfer, 1916
  • Ageronia februa fundania Fruhstorfer, 1916

The wingspan is 70–86 mm. The upperside is mottled brown and white although there is some red in the forewing cell bar. The hindwing eyespots have orange scales preceding black crescents. The underside of the hindwings is white and the submarginal eyespots are composed of a brown ring around a black crescent in a white center. Adults are on wing year round in the tropics and from August to October in southern Texas. They feed on sap and rotting fruit.

The larvae feed on Dalechampia and Tragia species. They are solitary and build resting platforms out of dung pellets.[2]

Subspecies
  • Hamadryas februa februa (Brazil, Paraguay, Peru)
  • Hamadryas februa ferentina (Godart, [1824]) (southern Texas, Mexico, Honduras, Trinidad) – Ferentina calico

References
  1. Hamadryas februa at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Hamadryas februa, Butterflies and Moths of North America


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