The Plain Tiger

The Plain Tiger Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa. Its beautiful wing colouration and slow, low flight appeal to many who wonder at it. The Plain Tiger Butterfly can be found at the doorstep of the EJC campus as its host plant, the Giant Milkweed, grows in certain patches at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

Interestingly, despite the presence of many predators such as birds, the Plain Tiger Butterfly tends to flutter gracefully at low heights in open areas. The secret to this care-free nature is the food which is consumed by the caterpillar of the Plain Tiger.

The host plant of the Plain Tiger caterpillar is the Giant Milkweed. This plant contains toxic compounds, cardenolides, which are consumed and stored by the caterpillars and eventually the adult butterfly. Due to its emetic properties, the plain tiger is unpalatable to most predators. As a result, the species' coloration is widely mimicked by other species of butterflies. This type of mimicry is known as Batesian Mimicry.