Australian DANAINAE

DANAINAE of Australia
including Tellervini
Daniaids, Tigers, Crows
NYMPHALIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans,
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

DANAINAE

eggs

DANAINAE

caterpillars

DANAINAE

pupae

DANAINAE

butterflies

DANAINAE

undersides

The Caterpillars of DANAINAE are smooth and have long paired filaments dorsally which appear like floppy horns.

"Danaid" describes the daughters of the king of Argos. They killed their husbands on their wedding night, and for this crime were condemned to the endless and futile task of filling sieve-like vessels with water. The adult Caterpillars and butterflies of this subfamily are poisonous, and the adults have a slow and heavy flight. Whether "Danaids" are named for their slow and heavy flight or because many contain poisons is unclear.

The common Australian species in DANAINAE are:

Danaus affinis : Swamp Tiger
Danaus chrysippus : Plain Tiger
Danaus genutia : Orange Tiger
Danaus petilia : Lesser Wanderer
Danaus plexippus : Wanderer or Monarch