Common Tiger ♂ / Danaus genutia / 虎斑蝶 (雄蝶)
The common tiger is one of the common butterflies of India, Southeast Asia and South China. It belongs to the "crows and tigers", that is, the Danainae group of the brush-footed butterflies family. Other names for this butterfly include the Indian Monarch and Orange Tiger. This is a common butterfly in Hong Kong.
The wingspan is 70 to 95 millimetres (2.8 to 3.7 in). Both sexes of the butterfly have tawny wings with veins marked with broad black bands. The butterfly resembles the closely-related monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of the Americas.
Members of this genus are leathery, tough to kill and fake death. Since they are unpleasant to smell and taste, they are soon released by the predators, recover and fly off soon thereafter.
The butterfly sequesters toxins from plants of the family Asclepiadaceae. To advertise their unpalatability, the butterfly has prominent markings with a striking colour pattern.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Best viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Common Tiger ♂ / Danaus genutia / 虎斑蝶 (雄蝶)
The common tiger is one of the common butterflies of India, Southeast Asia and South China. It belongs to the "crows and tigers", that is, the Danainae group of the brush-footed butterflies family. Other names for this butterfly include the Indian Monarch and Orange Tiger. This is a common butterfly in Hong Kong.
The wingspan is 70 to 95 millimetres (2.8 to 3.7 in). Both sexes of the butterfly have tawny wings with veins marked with broad black bands. The butterfly resembles the closely-related monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of the Americas.
Members of this genus are leathery, tough to kill and fake death. Since they are unpleasant to smell and taste, they are soon released by the predators, recover and fly off soon thereafter.
The butterfly sequesters toxins from plants of the family Asclepiadaceae. To advertise their unpalatability, the butterfly has prominent markings with a striking colour pattern.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Best viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.