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.
Danaus affinis is a widespread species found in Thailand, West Malaysia, the Philippines, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Timor, West Irian, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Britain, New Ireland and Australia where it is found along the coastal strip of Queensland.
Habitats
This species inhabits coastal swamp forest and mangroves.
Lifecycle
The egg is pale yellow and is laid singly on a leaf of the foodplant. The fully grown caterpillar is dark brown with numerous large white and yellow spots, and broken white rings between the segments. It has a pair of curved subdorsal filaments on the 2nd, 6th and 12th segments. It sequesters toxins from the larval foodplant Cynanchum ( Apocynaceae ) and is noxious to birds and small mammals. The chrysalis is barrel shaped with the abdominal segments compressed into a cone. It is green and brown with a gold ring around the widest part.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes nectar at a wide range of flowers. They roost overnight on twigs or stems, and often roost communally.
