Search

Common Tiger imbibing sap from Crotalaria retusa

on 18th January 2016

“It’s been a long time since I last wrote something for BESG. But thought I’d follow up on a previous article on Danaine butterflies scratching Crotalaria leaves for sap HERE.

“Previously, as featured in the article, I had videoed a Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia) cratching Crotalaria [Rattleweed (Crotalaria retusa)] leaves and imbibing the sap that oozed out:

“This evening I saw Common Tigers busy scratching Crotalaria flowers as well! Petals, sepals, leaves, everything was worth a scratch for a sip it seems:

“I noticed that these and other videos captured mostly males (with oval brands on the hindwings) feeding on the sap containing alkaloids. So upon some quick research online, I found out that, in addition to these butterflies imbibing the alkaloids to make themselves distasteful to predators as a defence mechanism (as mentioned in the previous article), males also feed on the alkaloids to produce pheromones to attract females.

“Notwithstanding that it was already 6.30pm and the sun was setting, at least 10 Common Tigers were still busying themselves around the Crotalaria patch in a flurry of orange wings. They were still feeding when I left close to 7.00pm, not sure if they will continue feeding into the night, but I had my own dinner to attend to.”

Lena Chow
Singapore
12th January 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1063
16638
Visitors Today
51731527
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)