Danaus affinis

Danaus affinis (Fabricius, 1775)
(one synonym: Salatura nigrita)
Black & White Tiger
DANAINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

Danaus affinis
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston, Queensland)

The Caterpillars of this species are dark blue, with white and yellow spots and bands. They have three pairs of filaments on their back.

(dried and blown specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

They feed on:

which is a climber growing on the margins of swamps and creeks

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The pupa is green or brown with a gold ring around its widest part, and hangs from a stem of a reed supporting the foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Trevor Jink, North Burnett)

The upper sides of the wings of the adult butterflies are black and white.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The undersides are similar, except that the hind wings also have orange markings. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 6 cms.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The eggs are pale yellow and bullet shaped. They are laid singly on a foodpant.

This is a coastal species, found over south-east Asia, from Indonesia to the Solomon islands, including the coastal areas of Queensland in Australia.