Note:
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It can store the poison from its foodplants in Asclepiadaceae in its body and is hence inedible to predators. Other species of butterflies, e.g. females of Papilio dardanus, have evolved to look very much like Danaus chrysippus (Batesian mimicry). |
Distribution:
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Common throughout southern Africa. |
Larval food (by plant family):
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Larval food (by plant genus):
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Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | Ceropegia (Food plant)
| Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | Huernia (Food plant)
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Larval food (by plant species):
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Literature:
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Henning, G.A., Pringle, E.L.L. & Ball, J.B. (1994), Pennington's Butterflies of Southern Africa, Struik Winchester, Cape Town, p. 47. Woodhall, S. (2005), Field guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, p. 36. |