Common Tiger
Image: Amagusa1 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Common NameCommon Tiger
Scientific NameDanaus genutia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)80
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen country, grasslands, forest edges, gardens, agricultural areas
Geographic RangeSouth Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and parts of Australia
Host PlantsAsclepias curassavica, Calotropis gigantea, Cynanchum acutum, Marsdenia tinctoria
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical and subtropical regions; typically from spring to autumn in more temperate parts of its range
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay single, pale yellow eggs on host plant leaves. Larvae are strikingly striped in black, white, and yellow, with two pairs of fleshy filaments. The pupa is a beautiful green chrysalis with metallic golden spots.
Identification TipsKey features include the tawny orange ground color, the black forewing apex with a white subapical band, and the black hindwing margin with two rows of white spots. The presence of distinct tails on the hindwings, though variable, can also aid in identification for certain forms or subspecies.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with tawny orange wings, featuring broad black borders on both forewings and hindwings, adorned with prominent white spots. The hindwings possess distinct, slender tails.
