Thousands of caper white butterflies from western Queensland have migrated to the south-east in search of food. Hundreds of millions of butterflies have flown to Queensland’s south-east in a beautiful display which is said to happen only once a decade on this scale. The phenomenon deemed a ‘butterfly blizzard’ is the Caper White or ‘common white’ butterfly migrating from west of the Great Dividing Range to lay eggs. The remarkable migration sees millions of butterflies flock to the south-east to lay 60-100 eggs each on caper bushes. The butterfly migration was normal for this time for year but those this large were less common, happening only once every six to ten years. The butterfly is mostly white but has a black edging around its wings.

1. Butterfly blizzard
millions of butterflies fly over Queensland skies

2. Thousands of caper white butterflies from western
Queensland have migrated to the south-east in
search of food.
Hundreds of millions of butterflies have flown to
Queensland’s south-east in a beautiful display
which is said to happen only once a decade on this
scale.

3. The phenomenon deemed a ‘butterfly blizzard’
is the Caper White or ‘common white’ butterfly
migrating from west of the Great Dividing Range
to lay eggs.

4. The remarkable migration sees millions of
butterflies flock to the south-east to lay 60-100
eggs each on caper bushes.
The butterfly migration was normal for this time
for year but those this large were less common,
happening only once every six to ten years.
The butterfly is mostly white but has a black
edging around its wings.