UK Butterflies - Marbled White - Melanargia galathea

Wingspan
Male: 53mm
Female: 58mm

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

mell-uh-NAR-jee-uh
ga-la-THEE-uh

Linnaeus, 1758

Ref: 1620

Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
Family:	Nymphalidae
Subfamily:	Satyrinae
Genus:	Melanargia
Subgenus:
Species:	galathea
Subspecies:	serena (Verity, 1913)

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Introduction
Distribution
Annual Cycle
Habitat
Larval Foodplants
Nectar Sources

Imago
Ovum
Larva
Pupa
Similar Species
Videos

Sites
Conservation Status
Links
References


Male	Male Underside	Female	Female Underside

	Introduction

Despite its name, the Marbled White is more closely related to the subfamily known as the "browns" that the "whites". This butterfly is unmistakable, its black and white markings distinguishing it from all other species found in the British Isles.

Subspecies: serena

The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.

	Distribution

This butterfly is found in distinct and often large colonies, primarily in the southern half of England and Wales, although its distribution extends as far north as Yorkshire. This butterfly is not found in Scotland or Ireland.

	Annual Cycle

Adults emerge in the second half of June, reaching a peak in mid-July. There is one generation each year.

Subspecies: serena

	Habitat

The butterfly is found in unimproved grassland where the grass may grow up to 0.5m tall. The largest colonies are found on downland but even small strips of grassland, such as a road verge, field margins, woodland clearings and disused railway lines can contain smaller colonies.

	Larval Foodplants

The main larval foodplants are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus).

	Nectar Sources

The main nectar source is Thistles (Cirsium spp.). Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Red Clover (Trifolium patense), Thyme (Thymus polytrichus), White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) are also used.

	Imago

Early morning is a good time to see this species, as it warms up with wings held open absorbing the sun's rays. This species can be quite conspicuous, even from a distance, as it may be the only white object among the grassland. At good sites it is not uncommon at good sites to see a flower head containing several adults all vying for space as they feed. When the weather is dull, and at night, the adults will rest on grass stems, as well as the flowerheads of any of their nectar sources, such as Thistle, Scabious or Knapweed.

The Marbled White is often found with parasitic red mites, Trombidium breei in particular, attached to its thorax, although such parasitism does not appear to affect the butterfly in any way.

Subspecies: serena


[LOCATION]Ashclyst Forest, Devon[/LOCATION] [DATE]12-JUL-06[/DATE] Camera: Acer CI-6330 Photo © m_galathea	Photo © Denise	Photo © Gwenhwyfar 05-Jul-2009	Photo © Vince Massimo 13-Jul-2006	Photo © Vince Massimo 11-Jul-2008

Photo © Vince Massimo 13-Jul-2006	Photo © Vince Massimo 20-Jun-2007	Photo © Vince Massimo 21-Jun-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 27-Jun-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 23-Jun-2006

Photo © Pete Eeles 23-Jun-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 28-Jun-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 28-Jun-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 29-Jun-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 29-Jun-2008

Photo © Nick Sampford 19-Jun-2004	Photo © Richard Hudson	Photo © Mike Duffy	Photo © Gruditch 23-Jun-2007

	Aberrations

Description to be completed

	Ovum

The white spherical egg is laid in a curious manner - the female does not lay on the foodplant, but simply drops the egg while perched on a grass stem or while flying in suitable habitat. The egg stage lasts around 3 weeks.

	Larva

The larva emerges from the top of the egg before eating the eggshell. It enters hibernation without further feeding, tucked away deep down in a grass clump. The larva emerges in the spring and early instars rest head down on a grass stem during the day, occasionally nibbling at the leaf. More mature larvae typically spend the day hidden away, head down, at the base of the stem, feeding only at night. The larva has two colour forms - being either a light green or a light brown. Prior to pupation, the larva will descend to the base of the stems.


Photo © Pete Eeles 02-May-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 10-Jun-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 10-Jun-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 17-May-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 17-May-2005

	Pupa

The pupa is formed loose on the ground, or under soil or moss, without attachment to any surrounding vegetation. This stage lasts around 3 weeks.


Photo © Pete Eeles 22-Jun-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 22-Jun-2006	Photo © Tim Norriss

	Similar Species

No similar species found.

	Videos

Videos can be played back using either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Click here to obtain a free RealPlayer or free Windows Media Player.

	Sites

Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.

Rating	Sites
	Darlands Banks LNR, Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit, Malling Down, Whitford Burrows
	Bannerdown, Denbies Hillside

	Bentley Wood, Broughton Down, Chambers Farm Wood

Not rated

	Conservation Status

This butterfly has extended its distribution over recent years and is not currently a priority species for conservation efforts.

UK BAP Status	Distribution Trend	Population Trend
Not Listed

From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

	Links

The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.

	References

The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:

A Natural History of British Butterflies, by F.W.Frohawk.
British and Irish Butterflies, by Adrian M. Riley
South's British Butterflies, by T.G.Howarth (which is based extensively on the classic work, "The Butterflies of the British Isles", by Richard South).
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington.
The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, by Jim Asher, Martin Warren, Richard Fox, Paul Harding, Gail Jeffcoate, Stephen Jeffcoate.
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 7 (1) Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae (the Butterflies), by A. Maitland Emmet and John Heath (editors).
The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Richard Fox, Jim Asher, Tom Brereton, David Roy and Martin Warren.