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African Monarch
Danaus chrysippus
9.60004, 7.99997
Field Notes
Description:
Danaus chrysippus, also known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It is a medium-sized, non-edible butterfly, which is mimicked by multiple species.
The Plain Tiger is a medium-sized 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.
The range of the Plain Tiger extends from Africa and southern Europe, eastwards via Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar to China , Java and Sulawesi. It is a very common species.
Habitat:
It is found in many habitats including desert (pending availability of food) and right up into the mountains at altitudes up to 9,000 feet (2,700 m). It is primarily a butterfly of open country and gardens and unlike the related Common Tiger, is least common in damp, forested, hilly regions. It is a somewhat migratory species.
This butterfly is perhaps the commonest of Indian butterflies and is a familiar sight on the subcontinent. It flies from dawn to dusk, frequenting gardens, sipping from flowers and, late in the day, fluttering low over bushes to find a resting place for the night.
As usual for diurnal butterflies, this species rests with its wings closed. When basking it sits close to the ground and spreads its wings with its back to the sun so that the wings are fully exposed to the sun's rays.
Notes:
The butterflies flocked into the field at the end of the compulsory curfew. They were famished. It was a cold day with light rain from morning to about 3pm. For the first time, I noticed that the Monarchs cared more about nectar than any other thing.
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