Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1
Hamadryas guatemalena
This record describes Hamadryas guatemalena (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Simplest character is probably the spots along the hindwing margin, which are gray or brown, surrounded by a thin blue-white circle, surrounded by a thick black circle, surrounded by another thin bluish-white circle. First U.S. Record: Bentsen-RGV State Park, 1974
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
Habitat
moist tropical and subtropical forests
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Costa Rica - Map (MPG, BOA)
Seasonal Activity
mostly Sept-Mar (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults come to sap, animal feces, and rotting or overripe fruit. Has not been recorded breeding in the US; caterpillars feed on foliage of vines in the genus Dalechampia , family Euphorbiaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hamadryas guatemalena (Bates, 1864)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hamadryas guatemalena. 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 Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1
What is Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1?
Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 (Hamadryas guatemalena) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1?
Simplest character is probably the spots along the hindwing margin, which are gray or brown, surrounded by a thin blue-white circle, surrounded by a thick black circle, surrounded by another thin bluish-white circle.
Where is Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | moist tropical and subtropical forests |
| Range | s. TX (as a stray) to Costa Rica - Map (MPG, BOA) |
What does Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 eat?
The diet of the Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 includes Adults come to sap, animal feces, and rotting or overripe fruit. Has not been recorded breeding in the US; caterpillars feed on foliage of vines in the genus Dalechampia , family Euphorbiaceae..
When is Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1 active?
Guatemalan Cracker - Hodges#4541.1: seasonal activity - mostly Sept-Mar (MPG).