Plain Tiger Butterfly Danaus chrysippus

The Plain Tiger is a common Butterfly native to southern Europe, Africa, Arabia and South and Southeast Asia. It is called the "Plain" Tiger to distinguish from the Common or Striped Tiger. Above are males with a "pheromone pocket" - the largest black spot with white on the hind wing.

The photos in the row above are of a female Plain Tiger, so without "pheromone pocket" patch.

Like other Danaid butterflies, they are poisonous and distasteful after the caterpillars' diet of milkweed. Due to this, many other butterfly species, especially Eggfly/Diadem species, mimic the Danaid colours and patterns as a form of protective camouflage. The main mimic of the Plain Tiger is actually called the Mimic, or Danaid Mimic/Eggfly - the female Hypolimnas misippus looks very similar. The "lace" border on the Mimic and the Lacewings are different to that of the Plain Tiger on both topside and underside.