Danainae
Guides
Danaus
tiger milkweed butterflies, tigers, milkweeds, monarchs, wanderers, queens
Danaus is a genus of butterflies in the tiger butterfly tribe (Danaini), commonly known as tiger milkweed butterflies, monarchs, wanderers, and queens. The genus includes some of the most recognizable butterflies worldwide, notably the migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Species in this genus are characterized by their association with milkweed host plants (Asclepias spp.), from which larvae sequester cardiac glycosides for chemical defense. The genus has a global distribution spanning North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Indonesia, and Australia, and serves as an important model system for studying migration, plant-insect coevolution, and genome evolution.
Lycorea halia
Tropical Milkweed Butterfly, Tiger Mimic-Queen
Lycorea halia is a nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily, found from Peru through Central America to the Caribbean and Mexico, with occasional strays reaching Texas. It inhabits rainforest environments and has a wingspan of 95–108 mm. The species exhibits aposematic coloration typical of milkweed butterflies and has been documented feeding on bird droppings as adults.
Pteronymia
Clearwing butterflies
A genus of clearwing butterflies in the tribe Ithomiini, characterized by reduced wing scaling that creates transparent or semi-transparent wing areas. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed in the Neotropics. Members exhibit Müllerian mimicry with other ithomiine genera and are active during daylight hours.