Danaus chrysippus is a medium-sized butterfly that is common throughout Asia, Australia, and Africa. It is sometimes referred to as the plain tiger, African queen, or African monarch. It is a member of the Nymphalidae family of brush-footed butterflies, specifically the Danainae subfamily. Danainae eat mostly plants of the genus Asclepias, which is also referred to as milkweed. Many butterflies absorb and store the poisonous chemicals called cardenolides found in milkweed.

Systematic Position

• Domain : Eukaryota
• Kingdom : Animalia
• Phylum : Arthropoda
• Class : Insecta
• Order : Lepidoptera
• Family : Nymphalidae
• Genus : Danaus
• Species : chrysippus