Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542
Hamadryas februa
This record describes Hamadryas februa (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Like other crackers, this species has a row of eyespots along the edge of the hindwing. This species, within those spots, has black crescents rather than complete black circles. It lands on tree trunks, wings spread, head downward.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Biblidinae
- Tribe
- Ageroniini
- Genus
- Hamadryas (Crackers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hamadryas februa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Tom Bentley , Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542
What is Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542?
Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542 (Hamadryas februa) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542?
Like other crackers, this species has a row of eyespots along the edge of the hindwing. This species, within those spots, has black crescents rather than complete black circles.
Where is Gray Cracker - Hodges#4542 found?
Range: s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA)