Danaidae Butterfly Colour Plates

Danaidae Host Plants

Asclepias curassavica / Red Top; Scarlet Milkweed
Cynanchum angustifolium / Gulf Coast Swallowwort
Calotropis gigantea / French Cotton; Giant Milkweed
Sarcostemma clausum / White Twine Vine
Spigelia anthelma / Loggerhead Weed; Pink Weed, Worm

The juice the larvae consume in these plants contains poisonous glycosides, that will later on make the butterfly distasteful to birds.

Danaidae Nectar Plants

Ageratum conyzoides / Billy Goat Weed
Antigonon leptopus / Corallila; Coralita
Asclepias curassavica / Red top; Scarlet Milkweed
Bidens alba var. radiata / Spanish Needles
Calotropis gigantea / French Cotton; Giant Milkweed
Crotalaria retusa / Yellow Sweet Pea; Rattle Box
Croton linearis / Rosemary
Cynanchum angustifolium / Gulf Coast; Swallowwort
Lantana aculeata / Lantana
Sarcostemma clausum / White Twine vine

Danaidae Habitat

Soldiers like sunny, dry places.

Asclepias curassavica
Red Top; Scarlet Milkweed

Antigonon leptopus
Corallila; Coralita