plain tiger is about long and across. When first laid it is white, but gradually turns brown over time. The egg is ridged and dome-shaped. Depending on temperature, the egg is typically hatched in 3–5 days. Caterpillar The larvae of D. chrysippus proceeds through five instar stages. The first instar is about long, and its body is white while the head is black. The second instar is about long, and its body is primarily gray with yellow and black horizontal stripes. This coloration remains for the final three instar stages. The third instar is about long, the fourth about long, and the fifth about long. Depending on temperature, the larval stage can last from 12 to 20 days. Prepupal and pupal stages Before pupation, the caterpillar will become motionless and cease feeding. Its color shifts slightly from gray to brown, and it may lose a small amount of body mass. The prepupal stage lasts 1–3 days depending on temperature. The pupal stage lasts 9–15 days depending on temperature, and the pupa changes color over this period from a pale green to dark brown. Pupae are about tall and wide. Adult Male and female D. chrysippus butterflies look very similar and are also similar in size. Adult butterflies typically have a wingspan of . The bodies of adult plain tigers are about long, and their antennae are about long. Depending on temperature, males live about 10–15 days and females live about 7–12 days. Enemies Predators Egg and larval predators Most predators of the early developmental stages of D. chrysippus are arthropods. Such potential predators include various kinds of spiders, assassin bugs, cockroaches, ladybugs, ants, and mantises. The caterpillars will even cannibalize each other. Egg and larval mortality is often high; as many as 84% of eggs may be lost to predation and up to 97% of larvae can be lost by the fifth instar, although most larval deaths occur during the third instar. Adult predators The most common predator of adult plain tigers are birds. In eastern Africa, the most common predator is the fiscal shrike L. c. humeralis. Parasites There are several organisms which parasitize the larvae of D. chrysippus. The fly S. flavohalterata of the Family Tachinidae is responsible for small amounts of parasitization in D. chrysippus populations. It is unclear whether the fly oviposits on the eggs of D. chrysippus or whether the fly oviposits on leaves which