Red Cracker Butterfly - stock photo

The Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome), is a species of cracker butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, native to regions of North and South America. These butterflies exhibit apparently aggressive behavior, and may approach by snapping their wings when other butterflies pass by. They may also demonstrate this same behavior towards people, birds, or even falling leaves. However, such behavior is probably more related to recognition between males and females and also to the hierarchy of dominance over a food resource than to the defense of a recognizable territory in space. The red-winged snapper exhibits fast and erratic flight, and usually lands with its head down and its wings wide open. It has shades of bright blue and black on the back of its wings, contrasting with the reddish colors on the underside, which are only seen with the wings closed. Only males produce the characteristic cracking sounds of the species. It can be found in clearings, edges and remnants of forests, and feeds on sap and fallen fruit on the ground.