Hamadryas feronia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name:
Variable Cracker

Synonyms:

Papilio feronia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Natural History:

Hamadryas feronia is easily confused with H. februa, but seems to be less abundant in disturbed areas. This butterflies has a color-mosaic makes it so totally cryptic when resting on the trunk of trees, especially in areas taken by fungi and lichens. Fling in erratic flight when disturbed and generally lands upside down and flattened wings on vegetation, rocks or walls. Searching for sun and can fly high. Unlike H. amphinome having their immature aggregated, H. feronia are solitary.

Distribution:
Argentina; Brasil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Honduras; México; Paraguay; Perú; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela

Feeding Adult:

Adults feed on rotten fruits

Feeding Caterpillars:

According compiled by Beccaloni et al. (2008), the larvae feed on:

Euphorbiaceae: Dalechampia sp., Dalechampia scandens, Dalechampia stenosepala, Dalechampia tiliifolia, Dalechampia triphylla, Euphorbia  pulcherrima.

Gramineae: Zea mays

Leguminosae-Mimosoideae: Inga affinis, Inga virescens

Palmae: Syagrus romanzoffiana

Color:
brown, blue, red, white

Habitat:
forest

Publications:

Beccaloni G.W, Viloria A.L., Hall S.K., Robinson G.S. (2008):

Catalogue of the hostplants of the Neotropical butterflies. Book., London, S.E.A., Ribes, CYTED, Natural History Museum, IVIC: 1-536