Caper White Belenois java
Wingspan: 55 mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: September - May (Rare winter sightings - single specimens, July, 2017, early & mid August 2019),
Migration Years - 16/08/19 - several dozen apparently newly emerged butterflies in the garden throughout the sunny day (20C-no wind). Then 30/11/19 to 06/12/19 large numbers flying N initially then NW.
Larval Food Plants: Capparis arborea and other Capparis species
This butterfly can be found over much of Australia where various species of its foodplant occur.
Wingspan: 55 mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: September - May (Rare winter sightings - single specimens, July, 2017, early & mid August 2019),
Migration Years - 16/08/19 - several dozen apparently newly emerged butterflies in the garden throughout the sunny day (20C-no wind). Then 30/11/19 to 06/12/19 large numbers flying N initially then NW.
Larval Food Plants: Capparis arborea and other Capparis species
This butterfly can be found over much of Australia where various species of its foodplant occur.
Male Caper White feeding on pink Kunzea, Claire Cottage Dorrigo Plateau, 16 Aug 2019
Another male - it is the first butterfly we've seen feeding on our Grevilleas, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau, 16 Aug 2019
Dark form female showing more yellow, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 19 Feb 2020
Dark form female showing more black on the upper wings, Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 19 Feb 2020
Caper White feeding on Spanish bluebells, 29 Sept 2007
Caper White butterflies are strong fast flyers, migrating great distances most years and usually not arriving here until September or October but occasionally not until early November. The one exception being their arrival here in August 2019.
Whilst driving north to Byron Bay in October 2005 Caper Whites were migrating in such large numbers it was like a snowstorm. Two weeks later back here on the Dorrigo Plateau large numbers were flying in a north westerly direction.
Another big migration here was during October 2007. That same migration was seen in Brisbane where an estimated 48,000 - 52,000 butterflies per hour were flying in a 50 m wide stream from ENE to WSW (Hugh Dingle, Migration: the biology of life on the move).
In November 2015 we saw Caper Whites flying in Sydney and later that month in Urunga, they were flying from the south. A strong warm southerly wind was blowing and for some butterflies their wings had suffered damage. We wonder how much further north they flew? Or were they being blown off-course by the strong wind?
Again in late October and early November 2016 very large numbers were migrating for more than a week here on the Plateau flying generally from the south-east towards the north-west. This was the first year that Caper Whites deposited eggs on our small street side Capparis arborea tree. Eggs were deposited in groups mostly on the underside of leaves (they were white at first turning orange after a day or so).
Migrations also pass through Sydney where in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, on two large mature Capparis arborea trees, the caterpillars of Caper Whites compete in huge numbers with those of the Southern Pearl Whites for the limited supply of food.
In 2014 in Forestville, Sydney near the Capparis arborea tree we planted many years ago in our former garden, males were hovering around females perched high in the tree, prior to mating. Having mated the females laid their eggs in large batches on many of the Caper flower buds. They seem to find this tree each year now but the numbers in 2014 exceeded other years seen at this same tree.
Around 2010 we were shown a Citrus tree on the Dorrigo Plateau that was covered in yellow Caper White eggs. Larvae failed to survive feeding on Citrus.
Whilst driving north to Byron Bay in October 2005 Caper Whites were migrating in such large numbers it was like a snowstorm. Two weeks later back here on the Dorrigo Plateau large numbers were flying in a north westerly direction.
Another big migration here was during October 2007. That same migration was seen in Brisbane where an estimated 48,000 - 52,000 butterflies per hour were flying in a 50 m wide stream from ENE to WSW (Hugh Dingle, Migration: the biology of life on the move).
In November 2015 we saw Caper Whites flying in Sydney and later that month in Urunga, they were flying from the south. A strong warm southerly wind was blowing and for some butterflies their wings had suffered damage. We wonder how much further north they flew? Or were they being blown off-course by the strong wind?
Again in late October and early November 2016 very large numbers were migrating for more than a week here on the Plateau flying generally from the south-east towards the north-west. This was the first year that Caper Whites deposited eggs on our small street side Capparis arborea tree. Eggs were deposited in groups mostly on the underside of leaves (they were white at first turning orange after a day or so).
Migrations also pass through Sydney where in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, on two large mature Capparis arborea trees, the caterpillars of Caper Whites compete in huge numbers with those of the Southern Pearl Whites for the limited supply of food.
In 2014 in Forestville, Sydney near the Capparis arborea tree we planted many years ago in our former garden, males were hovering around females perched high in the tree, prior to mating. Having mated the females laid their eggs in large batches on many of the Caper flower buds. They seem to find this tree each year now but the numbers in 2014 exceeded other years seen at this same tree.
Around 2010 we were shown a Citrus tree on the Dorrigo Plateau that was covered in yellow Caper White eggs. Larvae failed to survive feeding on Citrus.
A female feeding on Wallflower in our garden late afternoon, 1 Oct 2016
A male Caper White on migration in Sydney, 23 Nov 2015
Clusters of Caper White eggs on Capparis arborea flower buds in Sydney, 21 Nov 2015
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A male Caper White pausing briefly on migration through Forestville, Sydney, 23 Nov 2015
Three males hoping to mate with the female (centre) Forestville, 23 Nov 2015
Eggs laid on Caparis mitchelli, Coramba NSW, 2020 (Photo Rowan McCabe)
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Caterpillars hatched from eggs laid on our Caper tree from a migrating butterfly, 24 Nov 2016
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Caper White caterpillars have eaten all the leaves on our small Caper tree and are stripping the bark
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Final instar larva, Forestville NSW, 17 Sept 2017
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Final instar larva, Forestville NSW, 17 Sept 2017
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Various instar larvae, Forestville NSW, 25 Sept 2017 (Photo Charlotte Deane aged 8)
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Chrysalis, Forestville NSW, 25 Sept 2017 (Found and photographed by Charlotte Deane aged 8)
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Eating him out of house and home! Forestville NSW, 20 Oct 2017 (Photo Keith Deane)
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Hatching from a cluster of chrysalises Forestville NSW, 20 Oct 2017 (Photo Keith Deane)
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This butterfly in our garden must have flown a long way - the Capers are migrating, 9 Oct 2016
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A female dark form in our garden, 9 Dec 2016
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Dark form Caper White Cathedral Rocks National Park, 2 Dec 2014
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Capparis arborea flower, Forestville (Photo Keith Deane)
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A thirsty Caper White drinking water from our freshly watered strawberries, 11 Sept 2017
Caper White Belenois java
Wingspan: 55 mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: Jul 2017, Sep 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016, 2017, Oct 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016, Nov 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, Dec 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, Jan 2002, 2004, 2011, 2015; Feb 2004, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2020; Mar 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2020; Apr 2015, 2018, 2020; May 2020;
Migration Years - 16/08/19 - several dozen apparently newly emerged butterflies in the garden throughout the sunny day (20C-no wind). Then 30/11/19 to 06/12/19 large numbers flying N initially then NW.
Larval Food Plants: Capparis arborea and other Capparis species
This butterfly can be found over much of Australia where various species of its foodplant occur.
During Summer 2019-2020 Caper Whites were common most of the time.
Our Caper White sightings this warm season have been almost continuous for about 5 months now - Nov to April.. Large Caper White migration (maybe 15-20 visible at a time) continuing to fly through Claire Cottage gardens between 30/11/19 and 06/12/19. later (Feb - April) Caper Whites were accompanied by Lemon & White Migrants.
On 30/11/19 Caper Whites Initially were moving in a northerly direction, a non stop stream of butterflies. On the later days the numbers reduced a little and the flight path changed to heading NW, each day they continued all day.
Now on 25/04/20 we are still seeing Caper Whites (dark form) feeding in the garden. Not migrating just slowly passing through. Days still warm, butterfly numbers good for late April - see new photo of female Hypolimnas bolina.
Over the years we have observed Caper White migrations on the Mid North Coast moving in Easterly, Northerly, North-westerly and Southerly directions. We have no understanding of what is going on and how each butterfly seems to know the chosen direction for that migration yet they can be hours or days apart on their travels. Magic?
Dorrigo Plateau - large migrations occurred over the period 30/11/19 - 06-12-19. 1st day flying N then flying NW.
Last Autumn sightings, 08/05/20
Wingspan: 55 mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: Jul 2017, Sep 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016, 2017, Oct 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016, Nov 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, Dec 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, Jan 2002, 2004, 2011, 2015; Feb 2004, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2020; Mar 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2020; Apr 2015, 2018, 2020; May 2020;
Migration Years - 16/08/19 - several dozen apparently newly emerged butterflies in the garden throughout the sunny day (20C-no wind). Then 30/11/19 to 06/12/19 large numbers flying N initially then NW.
Larval Food Plants: Capparis arborea and other Capparis species
This butterfly can be found over much of Australia where various species of its foodplant occur.
During Summer 2019-2020 Caper Whites were common most of the time.
Our Caper White sightings this warm season have been almost continuous for about 5 months now - Nov to April.. Large Caper White migration (maybe 15-20 visible at a time) continuing to fly through Claire Cottage gardens between 30/11/19 and 06/12/19. later (Feb - April) Caper Whites were accompanied by Lemon & White Migrants.
On 30/11/19 Caper Whites Initially were moving in a northerly direction, a non stop stream of butterflies. On the later days the numbers reduced a little and the flight path changed to heading NW, each day they continued all day.
Now on 25/04/20 we are still seeing Caper Whites (dark form) feeding in the garden. Not migrating just slowly passing through. Days still warm, butterfly numbers good for late April - see new photo of female Hypolimnas bolina.
Over the years we have observed Caper White migrations on the Mid North Coast moving in Easterly, Northerly, North-westerly and Southerly directions. We have no understanding of what is going on and how each butterfly seems to know the chosen direction for that migration yet they can be hours or days apart on their travels. Magic?
Dorrigo Plateau - large migrations occurred over the period 30/11/19 - 06-12-19. 1st day flying N then flying NW.
Last Autumn sightings, 08/05/20