Marbled White (Melanargia galatheas)

Family: Nymphalidae Checklist: 59.012

 
Description
Wing span: 45-47mm. The Marbled White is an attractive black and white butterfly. The sexes are similar, but the female is larger and has a brown costa and brown underwing markings. It is found throughout most of southern and central England. Its habitat is unimproved grassland where the grass may grow up to 18 inches high. The largest colonies are found on downland but even small strips of grassland, such as road verges, field margins, woodland clearings and disused railway lines can also contain colonies.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Marbled White ♂ © David Hastings
Marbled White ♂ underside © David Hastings
Marbled White ♀ © David Hastings
Marbled White ♀ underside © David Hastings
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
There is one brood per year. Adults begin to emerge in mid-June, with the peak in mid-July, tailing off into August. The larva is the over-wintering stage.
 
Larval Foodplants
The main larval food plants are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's-fescue (Fetusca ovina), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus).
 
Nectar Sources
Adults feed primarily on Thistles. Knapweeds, Marjoram, Red Clover, Thyme, White Clover and Yarrow are also used.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 29th May
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 6th June
 
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:
Berkshire
Crookham Common
Fence Wood
Greenham Common
Lardon Chase
Seven Barrows
Buckinghamshire
Aston Clinton Ragpits
Bernwood Forest
Bernwood Meadows
Blue Lagoon
Bradenham
Buttler's Hanging
Dancersend
Howe Park Wood
Rushbeds Wood/Lapland Farm Meadows
Oxfordshire
Aston Rowant NNR
Aston Upthorpe Downs
Chimney Meadows
Crog Hill
Dry Sandford Pit
Hackpen Hill
Radley Lakes
Sydlings Copse
Watlington Hill
Whitecross Green Wood

 
Related Species
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