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TranslateDanaus chrysippus
Danaus chrysippus, commonly known as Plain Tiger.
Other names known by: African Monarch and African Queen.
Wingspan 7 to 8cm.
Family Nymphalidae 111 (Brush-footed butterfly family)
Sub Family: Danainae
D. chrysippus, is a widespread butterfly species found in Asia, Australia and Africa. In Southern Europe, it is mainly confined to most European countries and Islands having coastal locations around the Mediterranean. In most of Africa and around the Pacific Islands, further populations are found.
Habitat: It thrives in a wide variety of habitats although damp jungle like conditions, are less favoured. Mainly preferring drier, arid locations with large open areas of ground, such as mountainous regions, deciduous forests and even desserts. Will also be found in urban gardens and parks from sea level in altitudes up to 1500m.
Plants visited: Mainly containing plants of the genus, Asclepias, (commonly known as milkweed). The larval host plants are mainly from Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae)
The Plain Tiger is unpalatable to many of its would be prey, because, by having high toxic levels in their bodies. The toxics have been passed on from the larval foodplants. The toxins are also enhanced further, from the adult butterfly’s food plants. Other species of butterflies mimic this butterflies’ colourations, for their own defence system from being eaten, mainly being eaten by birds. Birds that have had the unpleasant taste of D. chrysippus will then obviously avoid similar butterfly colourations.
A high amount of larval around the world, fall prey to braconid wasps.
The sexes are very similar in pattern colouration, the male differs by having large scent glands, on his hind wings. They appear as a large black spot with a white centre, when viewed from the under-side of the wing, which the female lacks.
D. Chrysippus being a polymorphic species, exact patterns and colours differ between its worldly populations.
The Plain Tiger, is thought to be one of the first butterflies to be illustrated in art. A 3500-year-old Ancient Egyptian mural painting, (known as a fresco) of the Plain Tiger exists in the Egyptian town of Luxor.
Read MoreOther names known by: African Monarch and African Queen.
Wingspan 7 to 8cm.
Family Nymphalidae 111 (Brush-footed butterfly family)
Sub Family: Danainae
D. chrysippus, is a widespread butterfly species found in Asia, Australia and Africa. In Southern Europe, it is mainly confined to most European countries and Islands having coastal locations around the Mediterranean. In most of Africa and around the Pacific Islands, further populations are found.
Habitat: It thrives in a wide variety of habitats although damp jungle like conditions, are less favoured. Mainly preferring drier, arid locations with large open areas of ground, such as mountainous regions, deciduous forests and even desserts. Will also be found in urban gardens and parks from sea level in altitudes up to 1500m.
Plants visited: Mainly containing plants of the genus, Asclepias, (commonly known as milkweed). The larval host plants are mainly from Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae)
The Plain Tiger is unpalatable to many of its would be prey, because, by having high toxic levels in their bodies. The toxics have been passed on from the larval foodplants. The toxins are also enhanced further, from the adult butterfly’s food plants. Other species of butterflies mimic this butterflies’ colourations, for their own defence system from being eaten, mainly being eaten by birds. Birds that have had the unpleasant taste of D. chrysippus will then obviously avoid similar butterfly colourations.
A high amount of larval around the world, fall prey to braconid wasps.
The sexes are very similar in pattern colouration, the male differs by having large scent glands, on his hind wings. They appear as a large black spot with a white centre, when viewed from the under-side of the wing, which the female lacks.
D. Chrysippus being a polymorphic species, exact patterns and colours differ between its worldly populations.
The Plain Tiger, is thought to be one of the first butterflies to be illustrated in art. A 3500-year-old Ancient Egyptian mural painting, (known as a fresco) of the Plain Tiger exists in the Egyptian town of Luxor.
