• Caterpillars: Feed primarily on vines and herbs in the spurge family.

• The eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves or near the flowers of host plants.

• Adults: Feed mainly on tree sap and rotting fruit, rather than relying heavily on flower nectar.

Range

• The Gray Cracker ranges from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean and southward through tropical South America to Argentina. It occasionally reaches southern Texas.

• It occurs in the Zihua area, particularly where dry forest, second-growth vegetation, and its Dalechampia and Tragia host plants occur.

Habitat

• Commonly associated with subtropical and tropical forest edges, second-growth woodland, clearings, cultivated areas with trees, and disturbed vegetation.

• It can be particularly successful in partially disturbed habitats because its principal larval food plants often grow abundantly in clearings and secondary vegetation.

• Adults typically perch on tree trunks with their wings spread flat, where their mottled coloration provides excellent camouflage.

Description

• A medium-sized cracker with a wingspan of approximately 70–86 mm.

• The upper surface is a striking gray, brown, black, and whitish marbled pattern, giving the wings the appearance of weathered bark or lichen.

• The forewing has a distinctive reddish wavy line across the central portion, surrounded by gray, white, and dark mottling.

• The hindwing has a row of conspicuous concentric eyespots, each consisting of several colored rings surrounding a dark central crescent. These eyespots are particularly useful for distinguishing H. februa from other crackers.

• The underside is generally grayish and brown with a series of large, pale-edged eyespots on the hindwing.

• Males and females are generally similar in appearance.

• When resting, the butterfly normally holds its wings completely open against a tree trunk, making it remarkably difficult to detect.