Hamadryas fornax

Orange Cracker

Basic Information

General information

Family: Nymphalidae
Sub Family: Limenitininae
Estimated Lifespan 14 Days

Garden Specific Information

Estimated Number In Flight: 0
Total Number of Pupae Received: 103
First Flown On: 08/26/10
Last Flown On: 01/06/23

Species Range:

  • SouthAmerica

Host plants:

  • Dalechampia scandens

Food Source

Rotting fruit and other non-floral resources.

Habitat

Along trails and openings in wet tropical forests.

Life history

Eggs are laid in strings of 5-10 on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars live and feed communally. Males appear to be territorial and make cracking sounds when they fly toward each other. Adults perch on tree trunks head downward with their wings spread open. Just before dark, adults perch communally on a single tree, then disperse to roost in nearby trees or shrubs.

Flights

Many flights all year in range.

Fun Facts

The butterflies are active from sunrise to sunset, and are rarely seen away from tree trunks, but also sometimes bask on rock faces or tree foliage.