About Belenois java (Sparrman, 1768)
Belenois java, commonly known as the caper white or common white, is a small butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Melanesia. This species is highly migratory, and is often mistaken for the cabbage white, Pieris rapae.
Females lay Belenois java eggs in groups on the upper surface of host plant leaves. The caterpillars of this species feed on a specific set of 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), and bush orange (Capparis umbonata). Unlike other caterpillars of the same size, B. java caterpillars consume relatively little food. This means they are far less of an agricultural pest than comparable species. Caterpillars feed for approximately three weeks until they are fully grown, then pupate. Adults emerge around December across most of the species' range.
