38,619 observationsLeast Concern
Plain Tiger Butterfly
Danaus chrysippus
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia βΊPhylum: Arthropoda βΊClass: Insecta βΊOrder: Lepidoptera βΊFamily: Nymphalidae βΊGenus: Danaus
About
Danaus chrysippus, also known as the plain tiger or African monarch, is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus Asclepias, more commonly called milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds, cardenolides, which are often consumed and stored by many butterflies. Because of their emetic properties, the plain tiger is unpalatable to most predators. As a result, the species'...