Danaus affinis

Danaus affinis (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym: Salatura nigrita)
Black & White Tiger
DANAINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

(updated 10 May 2008)

Danaus affinis
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston, Queensland) )

The Caterpillars of this species are dark blue, with white and yellow spots and bands. They have three pairs of filaments on their back.

(dried and blown specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

They feed on:

which is a climber growing on the margins of swamps and creeks

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The pupa is green or brown with a gold ring around its widest part, and hangs from a stem of a reed supporting the foodplant.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The upper sides of the wings of the adult butterflies are black and white.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The undersides are similar, except that the hind wings also have orange markings. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 6 cms.

The eggs are pale yellow and bullet shaped. They are laid singly on a foodpant.

This is a coastal species, found over south-east Asia, from Indonesia to the Solomon islands, including the coastal areas of Queensland in Australia.