Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Medium
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Tropical grassland
Range: Africa and Asia
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Warning Colors
Status: Common

About

One of the world's most widely distributed butterflies, found across Africa, Asia, and Australia. Its vivid orange and black wings warn predators of bitter toxins sequestered from milkweed plants during its caterpillar stage.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A tiny ribbed egg laid on the underside of a host-plant leaf, hatching within days.
2.
caterpillar
A voracious caterpillar feeds and molts through several instars, growing rapidly.
3.
chrysalis
A chrysalis hangs sealed and still while the body remodels into a winged adult.
4.
butterfly
A winged adult with full scales and coloration, ready to fly and mate.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Danaus
Species: Danaus chrysippus