White Tiger

Description:

Nymphalidae; Danainae; Danaini; Danaus melanippus edmondii Lesson 1837. "Danainae is a small subfamily of large, chiefly tropical butterflies having the first pair of legs degenerate in the adult and usually with a disagreeable taste that serves to protect them from predators. They lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae (caterpillars) feed." https://philippinelepidopt.wixsite.com/b.... The images shown in Philippine Lepidoptera make it clear that this specimen is a male.

Habitat:

This White Tiger was spotted on undergrowth around a large outcrop of Tropical Whiteweed (Ageratum conyzoides) in space in the middle of rice land where four rice field boundaries meet.

Notes:

1. Philippine Lepidoptera states that this butterfly was first described by Lesson in 1837. Whereas, Wikipedia gives the credit to (Bougainville,1837). This a problem and I need to do a little more research. 2. The reason I only have one picture is that I was distracted by another butterfly that I was anxious to add to my catalogue. When I turned my attention back to this White Tiger, it was gone.