The Tigers in HortPark

These photos of the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus) were taken at the HortPark this morning. Outside Asia, this butterfly is also known as the African Monarch. It belongs to the Danainae (“Milkweed butterflies”) subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Plain Tiger is rather local in Singapore, where it generally stays within the vicinity of its caterpillar host plants, Asclepias curassavica or Calotropis gigantea both of which are not commonly cultivated in Singapore.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe 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.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageSingapore 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.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA male Plain Tiger attracted to the developing fruits of the Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe male Plain Tigers are irresistibly attracted to the Heliotropium indicum.