Variable Cracker

Description:

Cracker butterflies are a neotropical group of medium-sized brush-footed butterfly species of the genus Hamadryas. They acquired their common name due to the unusual way that males produce a "cracking" sound as part of their territorial displays. This genus of butterflies are commonly found throughout South America to Arizona, where at least nine species can be found in Costa Rica. They spend most of the day perching on trees, boulders, and other such surfaces against which they are camouflaged. Since cracker butterflies have camouflage, they are not poisonous and do not have a chemical defense. Unlike most butterflies, these species don't feed on nectar. Instead, cracker butterflies feed on rotting fruit, sap from leguminous trees, and animal dung. I always saw them on a hanging bunch of rotting bananas.