Guatemalan Cracker
Common NameGuatemalan Cracker
Scientific NameHamadryas guatemalena
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyBiblidinae
Wingspan (mm)70
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white, grey
HabitatTropical dry and wet forests, forest edges, clearings, secondary growth
Geographic RangeMexico, Central America, northern South America
Host PlantsDalechampia spp.
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are spiny and feed on *Dalechampia* vines. Adults typically feed on fermenting fruit and tree sap.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic mottled brown and white pattern, the specific arrangement of hindwing eyespots, and its habit of perching head-down on tree trunks. Adults are known for making a 'cracking' sound in flight.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a cryptic pattern of mottled browns, whites, and bluish-grey patches across its wings, featuring a distinctive series of concentric eyespots on the hindwings.
