Danaus chrysippus, also known as the plain tiger or African monarch, is a mediumsized, butterfly widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brushfooted butterfly family, Nymphalidae. Its coloration is mimicked by multiple species.
The plain tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500yearold Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species.
The plain tiger can be considered the archetypical danaine of India. Accordingly, this species has been studied in greater detail than other members of its subfamily occurring in India.
The Danaus chrysippus is a mediumsized butterfly with a wingspan of about 7–8 centimetres (2.8–3.1 in). The body is black with many white spots. The wings are tawny, the upper side brighter and richer than the underside. The apical half of the forewing is black with a white band. The hindwing has three black spots around the center. The hindwing has a thin border of black enclosing a series of semicircular white spots.
Background color and extent of white on the forewings varies somewhat across the wide range; see Systematics and taxonomy below.
The male plain tiger is smaller than the female, but more brightly colored. In addition, male danaines have a number of secondary sexual characteristics. In the case of the plain tiger, these are:
The male has a pouch on the hindwing. This spot is white with a thick black border and bulges slightly. It is a cluster of specialised scent scales used to attract females.
The males possess two brushlike organs which can be pushed out of the tip of the abdomen. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ηostplant in Cyprus Cynanchum acutum L.