Butterflies of
Australia
Swamp Tiger
Danaus affinis
FABRICIUS, 1775
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
DANAINAE
Tribe - DANAINI
subtribe - DANAINA
Danaus affinis
Wollongong NSW, Australia
© David Fischer
Introduction
The
subfamily Danainae, which includes the Monarchs & Tigers, Nymphs and Crows,
comprises of about 190 species worldwide.
All
butterflies in this subfamily are thought to be toxic or distasteful to avian
predators. Their bodies contain toxins derived from the larval foodplants,
often supplemented by further toxins derived from pyrrolizidine alkaloids in adult food sources.
This form of defence is called Batesian mimicry. It is only effective because
the toxic species far outnumber the non-toxic species. If the situation was
reversed, and most of the butterflies attacked were palatable, the mimicry would
serve no purpose.
To be completed.
Habitats
To be
completed.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
To be
completed.
Danaus affinis
Wollongong NSW, Australia
© David Fischer
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