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Project Noah Nature School
Hamadryas laodamia laodamia
Starry Night Cracker (Hamadryas laodamia laodamia), male, Ceiba Tops, Indiana, Loreto, Amazonia, Peru
Hamadryas are called Cracker due to the ability of the males to produce a "cracking" sound with some little rods next to their abdomen. Sounds like electrostatic discharge or crispy bacon in the fryer. It is supposed to be a warning sound for other approaching males. Taking pictures in the rainforest aera is quite tricky because they usually are hanging around on top of the canopy or at least 10 m above the camera. The can stay their for a long time, always head down to spot potential mates. This is not the shot I would expected, the sharpness is not over all the best.
Spotted on Jan 13, 2007
Submitted on Jan 13, 2012
20 Comments
Superb. You wouldn't think it could be the same from above and below.
@BearMaryAnnBrunson. My guess is that it is not a bullet ant - it seems too small relative to the size of the butterfly? Maybe Bayucca can tell us approximately how big this butterfly actually is. Bullet ants are about an inch long.
@BearMary: I do not know if this has been a bullet ant. I only know that these are the real challenge in the rainforest and not tarantulas, venemous snakes & Co.!
Posts from the field?? Sounds cool!! You need my mobile phone number?? ;-)...
Is that a Bullet Ant on the tree near it?
Hi Bayucca! Thanks for your great notes on your postings to this mission. We are working with Project Noah to create an "Amazon Week" in July when we will have students and teachers in Peru. I'll keep you posted on the details, but we would love to have your contributions and help with IDs as we post from the field. BTW, I shared your spotting on our Facebook Page today too!
:-))!
So language-wise practically neighbors. Even so, my high school German is a bit "rostig" so I'll stick to English ;-)
Bitte! I am originally from the eastern part of Switzerland, but now I am living in the famous Emmental, between Berne and Lucerne, so German speaking.
Haha, bitte sehr or s'il vous plait, not sure what part of Switzerland you're from ;-)
Dank u wel, Remco!
Beautiful...
Thanks Melissa for your visits and nice comments! I am glad you like my spottings.
Very interesting notes and beautiful photographs!
" there are stars in there"! From Odyssey 2001...
Beautiful - & what an appropriate name!
Thanks Alice. Can you imagine how a bird will be frighten when this one is suddenly open its wings and this bright blue spots come along? Although this butterfly stays often with open wings and head down on a trunk, this surprise method function and is imitated by many other butterflies.
It seems colorful on both sides of the wings! Lovely!
Thanks, Nicholas!
a beauty!