<> Danaus genutia (Cramer,1779) <>

the Common Tiger ผีเสื้อหนอนข้าวสารลายเสือ

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 460m a.s.l.

Danaus genutia is a common and widespread species that is found in all coutries of the SE Asia region. The adult male and female are similar in appearance but can be told apart by the androconia (scent scales) that are present on the underside of the male hindwing. When at rest or puddling it usually closes its wings unless it is basking. Late in the afternoon, especially when it becomes cloudy, they can be found basking with wings outspread on bushes or twigs. They are strong but rather slow fliers.

In the early morning large numbers of males, together with some other Danainae species, can be found feeding at plants oozing pyrrolizidine alkaloids from their stems and seed pods. This substance is what makes them taste bad and therefore helps to deter predators. The larvae also feed on these type of plants making them distasteful as well, and they pass the poison on to the adult butterfly. The species is multivoltine and with its very short lifecycle produces many broods per year. The adult female lays her eggs singly on the underside of leaves on the host plant and in less than 20 days there is a new generation of adults.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio genutia, Danaus adnana, Anosia genutia, Danaus bandjira, Danaus bimana, Danaida alexis, Danaida plexippus, Danaida grynion, Danaus nipalensis, Danaus sumbana, Danaus tuak, Danaus uniens, Salatura intermedia, Salatura intensa, Salatura laratensis, Salatura genutia

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Danainae - Danaus - genutia

Regional Subspecies: Danaus genutia adnana (Philippines exc.Palawan), D.genutia genutia (Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, W.Malaysia, Singapore, Palawan-Philippines), D.genutia sumatrana (Sumatra-Indonesia), D.genutia intensa (Java, Bali, Borneo-Indonesia). There are numerous other ssp. listed for individual Indonesian islands.

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Chiang Dao Nature Reserve, Chiang Mai, Thailand. ♀ 560m a.s.l.

Habitat: Danaus genutia is found in a wide range of habitats including evergreen and deciduous forest, scrubland, hill slopes, urban parks and gardens, grassland, and agricultural areas. It is usually seen at lower elevations but has been recorded up to 2600m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 70-80mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 1-2 days instar 2 1 day instar 3 1-2 days instar 4 1-2 days instar 5 3 days pupa 6 days Total egg to adult 17-19 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Asclepias curassavica, Calotropis gigantea, Ceropegia attenuata, Ceropegia evansii, Ceropegia fantastica, Ceropegia hirsuta, Ceropegia intermedia, Ceropegia lawii, Ceropegia media, Ceropegia vincifolia, Cynanchum annularium, Cynanchum boudieri, Cynanchum callialatum, Cynanchum dalhousiae, Cynanchum graphistemmatoides, Cynanchum hooperianum, Cynanchum lanhsuense, Cynanchum liukiuense, Cynanchum ovalifolium, Cynanchum pulchellum, Cynanchum rostellatum, Cynanchum tunicatum, Marsdenia formosana, Marsdenia tenacissima, Marsdenia tinctoria, Marsdenia tomentosa, Stephanotis floribunda, Oxystelma esculentum, Parsonsia alboflavescens, Pentatropis capensis, Telosma cordata, Vincetoxicum atratum, Vincetoxicum cissoides, Vincetoxicum flexuosum, Vincetoxicum tanakae (Apocynaceae), Lepisanthes rubigiosa (Sapindaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Asclepias curassavica, Calotropis gigantea, Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae), Asystasia gangetica, Barleria cristata, Rostellularia procumbens (Acanthaceae), Bauhinia purpurea, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria pallida, Crotalaria retusa, Cytisus scoparius, Tephrosia purpurea (Fabaceae), Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Stachytarpheta indica, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Mikania micrantha, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sphagneticola trilobata, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Ehretia aspera, Heliotropium indicum, Trichodesma indicum, Trichodesma zeylanica (Boraginaceae), Coleus barbatus, Leucas lamiifolia, Platostoma axillaris, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), (Meliaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii (Rhamnaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung, carrion.