Milkweed Butterfly - Characteristics

Characteristics

Some authors classify this family as a subfamily of Nymphalidae. Many other authors accept the traditional classification of Danaidae as a separate family. This separation is based on similarity of early stages, similar habits and poisonous nature.

Features include:

1. Small to large size butterflies. Most are not brightly coloured.
2. Forelegs modified in to brushes and are not suited for walking.
3. Sex marks appear on the wings of most males, either as patches on the hindwing or one or two brands on the forewing or with sex brand patches on either fore or hind wing. In some Euploea males the dorsum of forewing bowed and in females it is straight.
4. Most Danaidae males have one or two pairs of anal hairs or pencils.
5. Most of the members are model of 'mimetic' butterfly species of other families.
6. Danaids are poisonous and left alone by birds and other natural predators.
7. Danaids are extremely tough and hard to kill.
8. Take part in migration.
9. Food plants belongs to Asclepiadaceae, Apocynaceae, and Moraceae.