Plain Tiger 12042010 3

Danaus chrysippus chrysippus

Details
Family : Nymphalidae
Subfamily : Danainae
Genus : Danaus
Common Name : Plain Tiger, 金斑蝶, 樺斑蝶
Wingspan : 70-80mm
Hostplant(s) : Asclepias currasavica (Blood Flower, Milkweed)
Calotropis gigantea (Crown Flower, Giant Milkweed, Ivory Plant)

Status In Singapore : Common


Description
The Common Tiger has the same colouration as the Plain Tiger and indeed, the white and orange forms also occur as in the Plain Tiger. The veins of this species are strongly marked with black and in the field, the Common Tiger may occasionally be mistaken for the Black Veined Tiger. The white form, form-intermedius, has white hindwings with the border tinged with orange.

The butterfly has a rich fulvous orange forewings with a broad black apical border bearing a series of white spots. It occurs in two forms - form chrysippus which has orange hindwings, and form alcippoides which has white hindwings. Males can be distinguished by an additional brand on the hindwing.

Singapore is host to both forms of the Plain Tiger with the white-hindwinged form-alcippoides being the more common of the two forms. The species is distasteful to birds.

Habitat & Habits
The Plain Tiger is rather local in Singapore, where it generally stays within the vicinity of its caterpillar host plants.

The recent development of a Butterfly Trail at Alexandra Hospital has brought the Plain Tiger to the urban garden of the hospital grounds. The host plant, Asclepias currasivica, was grown in the trail and this has brought about a relatively large population of the Plain Tiger to the area. It appears to be common as long as the host plant is available.

Source: ButterflyCircle