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.

Gray cracker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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
Plate accompanying Hübner's original description

The wingspan is 70–86 mm. 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.[2]

Subspecies

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

References

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  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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