African Queen Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus)
Also known as Plain Tiger or African monarch, is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa.
Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds, 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, its coloration is widely mimicked by other species of butterflies.
The plain tiger inhabits a wide variety of habitats, although it is less likely to thrive in jungle-like conditions and is most often found in drier, wide-open areas
The plain tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies depicted in art. A 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest known illustration of this species
Male plain tigers use the toxic alkaloids to synthesize pheromones for attracting females. Males deprived of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in their diet are considerably less successful in mating; mating appears to occur preferentially between butterflies of the same subspecies, so coloration is likely also an important signal in the mating process. Female plain tigers have been recorded as mating up to four times.
African Queen Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus)
Also known as Plain Tiger or African monarch, is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa.
Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds, 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, its coloration is widely mimicked by other species of butterflies.
The plain tiger inhabits a wide variety of habitats, although it is less likely to thrive in jungle-like conditions and is most often found in drier, wide-open areas
The plain tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies depicted in art. A 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest known illustration of this species
Male plain tigers use the toxic alkaloids to synthesize pheromones for attracting females. Males deprived of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in their diet are considerably less successful in mating; mating appears to occur preferentially between butterflies of the same subspecies, so coloration is likely also an important signal in the mating process. Female plain tigers have been recorded as mating up to four times.