Calypso white facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calypso white
male B. c. calypso, Ghana
female B. c. calypso, Gambia
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Papilio calypso Drury, 1773 Papilio fulvoacuminatus Goeze, 1779 Papilio nigronotatus Goeze, 1779 Papilio nigropictus Goeze, 1779 Belenois calypso f. lypsoca Berger, 1939 Belenois calypso calypso f. cretacea Talbot, 1943 Belenois dentigera Butler, 1888 Pieris subeida var. schweinfurthi Schultze, 1914 Pieris calypso var. costimacula Gaede, 1916 Pieris calypso calypso ab. flavida Hulstaert, 1924 Pieris calypso calypso ab. pulchricolor Hulstaert, 1924 Anapheis calypso dentigera f. tshangerensis Dufrane, 1948 Belenois calypso dentigera f. aurea Berger, 1981 Belenois calypso minor f. butyrosa Talbot, 1943 Belenois calypso f. nausicaa Stoneham, 1957 Belenois calypso f. helena Stoneham, 1957 Belenois calypso f. alcestis Stoneham, 1957 Belenois calypso f. alcimede Stoneham, 1957 Belenois calypso f. alcippe Stoneham, 1957

The Calypso Caper White (scientific name: Belenois calypso) is a beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Pieridae family, which includes many white and yellow butterflies. This butterfly is known for its striking appearance and its ability to travel long distances.

You can find the Calypso Caper White in many parts of Africa. It lives in countries like Senegal, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These butterflies prefer to live in forests. Sometimes, they even fly to new areas, which is called migration.

What Do Calypso Caper Whites Eat?

Like all butterflies, the Calypso Caper White starts its life as a larva (caterpillar). These caterpillars need specific plants to grow. They munch on plants from the Semirestis paniculata, Maerua, Cadaba, Capparis, and Ritchiea groups. These plants provide all the nutrients the caterpillars need before they turn into butterflies.

Different Kinds of Calypso Caper Whites

Even within the same butterfly species, there can be slight differences. These are called subspecies. The Calypso Caper White has a few known subspecies, each found in different areas:

B. c. calypso

This subspecies is found in West African countries. These include Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

B. c. dentigera

You can find this type in Central Africa. Its home includes Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and north-western Angola.

B. c. marlieri

This subspecies lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

B. c. minor

This type of Calypso Caper White is found in East Africa. It lives in Uganda, western Kenya, and north-western Tanzania.