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Description

Species Name: Caper White

Species Latin Name: Belenois java

Sub Species:

Belenois java Java (Located in Indonesia)

Belenois java Savuana (located in Savu)

Belenois java Teutonia (Located in Australia)
Belenois java Ina (Located in Indonesia)

Belenois java Peristhene (Located in Melanesia)

Belenois java Picata (Located in Melanesia)

Belenois javaMicronesia (Located in Fiji)

Native To: Australia, Indonesia, Melanesia

Photo Taken At: Melbourne Zoo

Body Size: 3cm (1.2 inches)

Wingspan: 5-6cm (2.0 – 2.4 inches)

Pupa Size: 2.5cm (1 inch)

Egg description: Small and orange

Description:

These small butterflies have mostly a pure white colour to their bodies and wings. Along the edges of their wings a very dark brown/black is featured and this colour will streak throughout their wings in a delicate patter of white and dark brown/black. In some of the white splotches a bright yellow will be noted, the amount of yellow on the wings seems to differ between each individual butterfly/sub species. These butterflies have white compound eyes with black spots.

During the larval/caterpillar stage of this insect yellow spots are noted throughout their bodies. The upper portion of their bodies are a dark brown where as the lower body is a green colour. They will have a black head and their bodies will have small white hairs around their bodies featuring more around the lower body and face.

Diet:

During the caterpillar stage of this insects life they will generally feed on the below plants:

currant bush ( Apophyllum anomalum)

scrub caper berry ( Capparis arborea)

dog caper ( Capparis canescens)

nipan ( Capparis lasiantha)

Australian native orange ( Capparis mitchellii)

wild orange ( Capparis sepiaria)

Australian native caper ( Capparis spinosa)

bush orange ( Capparis umbonata)

The caterpillars eat relatively little for their size. The caterpillars almost exclusively feed on plants that belong to the caper family. Although the individual caterpillars eat relatively little for their size they can become so numerous in numbers that they strip their food plants entirely of leaves in the areas they are situated. However it appears these plants tend to recover from this destructive behaviour. Due to these facts these insects are generally not considered a pest insect compared other species who are considered to be more destructive.

Behaviour:

As a result of this these insects will generally be found where the above plants are located. They are usually found in the northern parts of inland New South Whales and Queensland. During the spring the butterflies will migrate caper shrubs and creepers are more common. Westerly winds can cause the butterflies to be blown off course so it has been noted to see these butterflies closer to the coast at times.

The butterflies will tend to lay their eggs on the plants that they feed on as they migrate. It is known that at times these butterflies will migrate towards areas where the plants they feed on are not present, it is unclear as to why or how the butterflies evolved to display this behaviour at times. The caterpillars will feed for about three weeks until they are fully grown and enter the pupal stage of their life cycle.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: Belenois java - Wikipedia

Atlas of Living Australia: Belenois java : Caper White | Atlas of Living Australia (ala.org.au)

Sunshine Coast Council:Butterfly migration on the Coast (sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au)

Australian Museum: Caper White Butterfly - The Australian Museum

Description

Species Name: Caper White

Species Latin Name: Belenois java

Sub Species:

Belenois java Java (Located in Indonesia)

Belenois java Savuana (located in Savu)

Belenois java Teutonia (Located in Australia)
Belenois java Ina (Located in Indonesia)

Belenois java Peristhene (Located in Melanesia)

Belenois java Picata (Located in Melanesia)

Belenois javaMicronesia (Located in Fiji)

Native To: Australia, Indonesia, Melanesia

Photo Taken At: Melbourne Zoo

Body Size: 3cm (1.2 inches)

Wingspan: 5-6cm (2.0 – 2.4 inches)

Pupa Size: 2.5cm (1 inch)

Egg description: Small and orange

Description:

These small butterflies have mostly a pure white colour to their bodies and wings. Along the edges of their wings a very dark brown/black is featured and this colour will streak throughout their wings in a delicate patter of white and dark brown/black. In some of the white splotches a bright yellow will be noted, the amount of yellow on the wings seems to differ between each individual butterfly/sub species. These butterflies have white compound eyes with black spots.

During the larval/caterpillar stage of this insect yellow spots are noted throughout their bodies. The upper portion of their bodies are a dark brown where as the lower body is a green colour. They will have a black head and their bodies will have small white hairs around their bodies featuring more around the lower body and face.

Diet:

During the caterpillar stage of this insects life they will generally feed on the below plants:

currant bush ( Apophyllum anomalum)

scrub caper berry ( Capparis arborea)

dog caper ( Capparis canescens)

nipan ( Capparis lasiantha)

Australian native orange ( Capparis mitchellii)

wild orange ( Capparis sepiaria)

Australian native caper ( Capparis spinosa)

bush orange ( Capparis umbonata)

The caterpillars eat relatively little for their size. The caterpillars almost exclusively feed on plants that belong to the caper family. Although the individual caterpillars eat relatively little for their size they can become so numerous in numbers that they strip their food plants entirely of leaves in the areas they are situated. However it appears these plants tend to recover from this destructive behaviour. Due to these facts these insects are generally not considered a pest insect compared other species who are considered to be more destructive.

Behaviour:

As a result of this these insects will generally be found where the above plants are located. They are usually found in the northern parts of inland New South Whales and Queensland. During the spring the butterflies will migrate caper shrubs and creepers are more common. Westerly winds can cause the butterflies to be blown off course so it has been noted to see these butterflies closer to the coast at times.

The butterflies will tend to lay their eggs on the plants that they feed on as they migrate. It is known that at times these butterflies will migrate towards areas where the plants they feed on are not present, it is unclear as to why or how the butterflies evolved to display this behaviour at times. The caterpillars will feed for about three weeks until they are fully grown and enter the pupal stage of their life cycle.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: Belenois java - Wikipedia

Atlas of Living Australia: Belenois java : Caper White | Atlas of Living Australia (ala.org.au)

Sunshine Coast Council:Butterfly migration on the Coast (sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au)

Australian Museum: Caper White Butterfly - The Australian Museum