Plain Tiger

About the Plain Tiger in Singapore

Last updated 29 May 2026

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus) is a medium-sized butterfly that flies slowly when feeding amongst their favourite nectar plants such as the Coat Buttons plant (Tridax procumbens) and Wild Cosmos plant (Cosmos caudatus).

Identifying features

Check out some of the identifying features of the Plain Tiger below.

The Plain Tiger butterfly is easily recognised by its bright orange wings with bold black and white borders. Its wings also have some white spots near the edges, making it stand out against green leaves and flowers. The Plain Tiger is the only Tiger butterfly in Singapore without black veins on its hindwings!

Interested to learn more about how to identify Butterflies? Check out our simple guide on identifying Butterflies!

Habitat and ecology

The Plain Tiger can be found in urban areas, parks and gardens.

Did you know?

The Plain Tiger caterpillars feed on milkweed plants (Asclepiadaceae), which play a special role in protecting them. Milkweed contains chemicals called cardenolides (or cardiac glycosides) that are toxic to most animals. When the caterpillars eat the milkweed leaves, these toxins build up in their bodies and remain even after the caterpillars become butterflies.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the difference between Plain, Common and Black Veined Tiger?

The Plain Tiger can be differentiated from the similar-looking Common Tiger by the lack of black veins on its hindwing. The Common Tiger is often confused with the Black-veined Tiger, but can be distinguished by its narrower margins.

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Enjoy spotting butterflies, or interested to learn more about the ones you see in our parks and gardens? Join us for the Butterfly Watch to collect valuable data about local species, which contributes to their conservation.

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