The plain tiger inhabits a wide variety of habitats, although it is less likely to thrive in jungle-like conditions and is most often found in drier, wide-open areas.

[6] This species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism, as the male has large scent glands on his hindwings, which the female lacks.

They appear as a large black spot with a white centre if viewed from the underside D. chrysippus is a polymorphic species, so the exact colouring and patterning vary within and between populations.

[citation needed] The plain tiger prefers arid, open areas, and is found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, mountains, deciduous forests, and human-tended gardens in cities and parks.

[4] The plain tiger's larval host plants are from several families, most importantly Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae):[11] Host plants from other families include Dyerophytum indicum (Plumbaginaceae), Ficus (Moraceae; recorded on F. laevis, F. racemosa), Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae; recorded on I. alba, I. bona-nox), Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Sapindaceae) as well as some Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae and Scrophulariaceae.

[12][13] In addition to nectar, adult plain tigers obtain pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the dead stems of different plant types.

The second instar is about 8 mm (0.31 in) long, and its body is primarily gray with yellow and black horizontal stripes.

Its colour shifts slightly from gray to brown, and it may lose a small amount of body mass.

The pupal stage lasts 9–15 days depending on temperature, and the pupa changes colour over this period from a pale green to dark brown.

Such potential predators include various kinds of spiders, assassin bugs, cockroaches, ladybugs, ants, and mantises.

The fly S. flavohalterata of the Family Tachinidae is responsible for small amounts of parasitisation in D. chrysippus populations.

A. chrysippi, a parasitic wasp of the family Braconidae, oviposits on larvae early in their development and then kills them in the later stages.

[19] Because the plain tiger is unpalatable (also called inedible), they are aposematic – their bright colouration serves as a warning to predators that they are either distasteful or toxic.

Consequently, once a predator has made the mistake of attempting to eat a plain tiger, they will refrain in the future from attacking similarly coloured butterflies.

This has led to the evolution of a number of other species which mimic the plain tiger in order to co-opt the protection conferred by such bright colouration.

From the colour pattern of this species, it can be assumed that the ancient lineage had no black apex on the forewings, as this characteristic is still absent in D. dorippus.

The presumed subspecies cratippus most likely belongs to either the lesser wanderer or the dorippus tiger, but confirmation of its taxonomic status requires more research.

[5] Several local forms have been described from Asia: On the other hand, the plethora of named taxa from Africa are apparently F1 or F2 hybrids between the plain tiger subspecies (the contact zone of which is in the general area of Uganda) and/or D. dorippus: When D. chrysippus was analysed via a sample from Kampala, Uganda, it was found that the population was undergoing a significant level of evolutionary change.

Three loci were examined, and genotypic frequency differences found at two of the three suggested that opposing selective forces, likely pertaining to Mullerian and Batesian mimicry, acting on males and females is contributing to a balanced polymorphism.

Male plain tigers use the alkaloids to synthesize pheromones which are stored in hair-pencils sheathed in alar organs, which are specialised scales on top of the hindwing.