Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP InsectsAmegilla chlorocyanea Bee Banksia Moth – Caterpillar Bee Fly (Australiphthiria sp) Bee Fly (Ligyra cingulata) Braunsapis sp Bush Cockroach (Ellipsidion humarale) Caper White Butterfly Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus ssp sthenelus) Crusader Bug (Mictis profana) Day Flying Moth Exoneurella eremophila Bee Ground Shield Bug Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides) Katydid (Taeniomenae) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Mating Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Opisthopsis sp Potter Wasp Processionary Caterpillar Snout Beetle (Lixus) Torymus Chalcid Wasp Transverse Ladybird

Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House

A number of different species of butterflies are often seen flying around the desert park including the Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia).

The best place to find the Caper White Butterflies are around the plants of the caper family (Capparis spp). These include the Wild Passionfruit, also known as the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia) and the Australian Native Orange (Capparis mitchellii). They can be seen laying their eggs on the host plants.

Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) laying their eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) laying their eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) laying their eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) laying their eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Caper White Butterfly (B. j. teutonia) laying its eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)

The caper plants that are hosts to the developing caterpillars grow through different instar stages. You can often see the cases of the instar, and then the developing chrysalis to emerge as the butterfly.

Caterpillar (Belenois java teutonia) and empty instar cases
Caterpillar (Belenois java teutonia) and empty instar cases
Belenois java teutonia instars and caterpillars
Belenois java teutonia instars and caterpillars
Belenois java teutonia caterpillar in the fruit husk of the Wild Passionfruit (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Belenois java teutonia caterpillar in the fruit husk of the Wild Passionfruit
Belenois java teutonia instars husks and cases
Belenois java teutonia instars husks and cases
Caterpillars, instars and their cases of the Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) on a Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia) denuded of leaves.
Caterpillars, instars of the Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) on a Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia) denuded of leaves.

Check out our Fauna section on the Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia).

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Pieridae
  • Genus: Belenois
  • Species: B. java
  • Binomial name: Belenois java
  • Subspecies:
    • B. j. java (Indonesia)
    • B. j. savuana (Savu)
    • B. j. teutonia (Australia)
    • B. j. ina (Indonesia)
    • B. j. peristhene (Melanesia)
    • B. j. picata (Melanesia)
    • B. j. micronesia (Fiji)
Caper White Butterfly (Belenois java teutonia) laying their eggs on the Caper Bush (Capparis spinosa var. nummularia)
Caper White Butterfly laying its eggs on the Caper Bush, Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP InsectsAmegilla chlorocyanea Bee Banksia Moth – Caterpillar Bee Fly (Australiphthiria sp) Bee Fly (Ligyra cingulata) Braunsapis sp Bush Cockroach (Ellipsidion humarale) Caper White Butterfly Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus ssp sthenelus) Crusader Bug (Mictis profana) Day Flying Moth Exoneurella eremophila Bee Ground Shield Bug Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides) Katydid (Taeniomenae) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Mating Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Opisthopsis sp Potter Wasp Processionary Caterpillar Snout Beetle (Lixus) Torymus Chalcid Wasp Transverse Ladybird

ASDP FaunaASDP Arachnida ASDP Birds ASDP Insects ASDP Reptiles Dingo Ghost Bat Greater Bilby Numbat Red Kangaroo Short-beaked Echidna Spinifex Hopping Mouse Thorny Devil Western Quoll

Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House