Danaus chrysippus, commonly known as the African Monarch or Plain Tiger, is one of the most widespread butterflies of Africa, also occurring across parts of southern Europe, the Middle East, and much of Asia. It inhabits a wide variety of open environments, including grasslands, gardens, agricultural land, roadside vegetation, and urban green spaces, where it is often among the most conspicuous butterflies on the wing.
Its flight is slow, graceful, and often gliding, making the species easy to recognize as it moves between flowering plants. The wings are predominantly orange-brown with black margins and contrasting white spots, a warning colour pattern shared by several members of the milkweed butterfly group.
The caterpillars feed mainly on plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), particularly milkweed relatives. During development they may acquire cardenolides from their host plants, compounds that can be retained into adulthood and contribute to chemical defence against predators.
In southern Africa, the species is commonly represented by Danaus chrysippus ssp. orientis, a subspecies recognized by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Records identified as this subspecies are known from the Cape Town region, including observations from the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden area, making it the most likely identification for the butterfly photographed here.
• Afrikaanse Melkbosskoenlapper
• African Monarch, African Plain Tiger
• Monarca Afroasiática, Monarca africana
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Danainae
Tribe: Danaini
Genus: Danaus
Species: Danaus chrysippus
* Likely subspecies: Danaus chrysippus ssp. orientis
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa
Camera: Canon EOS 77D / 9000D
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 600.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/500
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 500
Photo Taken: March 19, 2018
High resolution
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