Gotta love any animal called a Cracker, amirite? ...

Gotta love any animal called a Cracker, amirite?

BLUE CRACKER* BUTTERFLY
Hamadryas arinome
© gwburke2001

Cracker butterflies (also called Calico butterflies) are a neotropical group of medium-sized brush-footed butterfly species commonly found throughout South America to Arizona. At least nine species can be found in Costa Rica. They acquired their common name due to the unusual way that males produce a “cracking” sound as part of their territorial displays.

In the field, Hamadryas emit audible clicks when approached by potential predators, to defend territories from other Hamadryas and in at least one species also during courtship. Severe wing damage, common in wild Hamadryas, almost never affects the section with the sound mechanism. More than 50 species of lepidopterans (11 families) emit sound audible to humans. In general, lepidopteran sound is used basically as a warning to predators and for intraspecific communication.

Research has shown that cracker butterflies can also detect the sounds made by other butterflies, which would be a form of social communication. The organ of hearing is believed by some to be Vogel’s organ, located at the base of the forewing subcostal and cubital veins.

However, they may actually have a larger hearing organ for lower sound wave frequencies.

*The Red and Blue Cracker look similar and are both blue patterned, however the underside of the Red Cracker is brick red in color.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamadryas_%28butterfly%29

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