Danaid eggfly (male)

Description:

The male Danaid Eggfly is blackish with distinctive white spots, which appear fringed in irridescent blue only at certain angles (see second specimen on third shot). The underwing pattern helps to distinguish this butterfly from the common eggfly.

Habitat:

Spotted here on a path at the entrance of the the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park (coral rag forest), Unguja Island, Zanzibar. This species is very widely distributed and found across Africa, Asia, and Australia

Notes:

This butterfly is well known for polymorphism and mimicry. Females appear in multiple forms including male like forms as well as the toxic Danaus chrysippus and Danaus plexippus butterflies.