White Caper Butterfly

Description:

The adult male butterfly has white wings. The upper and lower surfaces of the fore wings have a broad black apical patch, and the upper surfaces of the hind wings have a black terminal border. The black areas enclose white spots. The under surfaces of the hind wings are black except for white patches between the veins, and a yellow inner margin, and subterminal spots. Its wingspan is about 5 cms. The adult females are larger, with a wingspan about 6 cms., and are variable in colour. Pale forms have the undersurfaces of their wings similar to those of the male, but can be distinguished from the male by the upper surfaces, which have wider black borders. Dark forms of the female have orange wing upper surfaces, with broad black borders containing white spots. Underneath, orange replaces white. All graduations between the pale and dark forms occur in the same population.