Crab Spider
This crab spider has just caught a butterfly. Notice that the crab spider camouflaged itself to the underside of the flower. This camouflaging process usually takes around 2-3 days.
Praying Mantis
The praying mantis is also another famous predator when it comes to plain tiger butterflies. It catches the butterfly with its strong front legs that are lined with spikes. Their legs also close in a certain way to have a firm grip on the butterfly. They do not use poison but eat the prey alive while they hold it firmly.
Predators
and Survival Strategies
Predators of butterflies includes birds, lizards, ants, snakes, toads, wasps, dragonflies and even monkeys! A few of the rare predators includes frogs and spiders. However, butterflies have their own methods of preventing themselves from falling prey by either developing a bad taste to their bodies or tricking their predators.
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The plain tiger is protected from attacks due to the unpalatable alkaloids ingested during the larval stages. The butterfly therefore flies slowly and leisurely, generally close to the ground and in a straight line. This gives a would-be predator ample time to recognise and avoid attacking it. Inexperienced predators will try attacking it, but will learn soon enough to avoid this butterfly as the alkaloids in its body cause vomiting.
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The butterfly also has a tough, leathery skin to survive such occasional attacks. When attacked it fakes death and oozes nauseating liquid which makes it smell and taste terrible. This encourages the predator to release the butterfly quickly. The plain tiger thus has the ability to recover "miraculously" from predator attacks that would kill most other butterflies.