The
Caper White (Anaphaeis java teutonia) is
one of Australia’s commonest butterflies. The larvae feed on the foliage of
the Wild Orange (Capparis mitchellii) a plant that occurs in dry inland
areas of all mainland states. After females lay their eggs, the insects become
restless and affected by “flying hysteria”. Huge numbers take wing and fly
east towards the coast. These migrations take place in November and December.
In some years there are vast swarms of these butterflies. I remember a huge
swarm in the Sydney region in the 1950’s.
In December 1928 the SS Monterey encountered millions of Caper
Whites at sea between Sydney and Auckland.
At Yallaroo, between November and December many Caper Whites visit on their
eastward migration. They appear to feed on everlasting daisies and some
flowering Myrtaceae including Backeas and Kunzeas.
We gleaned the information, for this item from a
number of sources but principally from Australian Insects by Keith
McKeown (published in 1944 by the Royal Zoological Society). An interesting
book which combines scientific information with practical observations about
many Australian insects.