 Wingspan
Male: 53mm
Female: 58mm |
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Marbled White
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Melanargia galathea
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Linnaeus, 1758 |
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Ref: 1620 |
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| Superfamily: | Papilionoidea |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Subfamily: | Satyrinae |
| Genus: | Melanargia |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: | galathea |
| Subspecies: | serena (Verity, 1913) |
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Male Underside |
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Female Underside |
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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.
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.
Adults emerge in the second half of June, reaching a peak in mid-July. There is one generation each year. Subspecies: serena 
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.
The primary larval foodplants are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus).
Adults feed primarily on Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus 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.
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 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
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[LOCATION]Ashclyst Forest, Devon[/LOCATION]
[DATE]12-JUL-06[/DATE]
Camera: Acer CI-6330
Photo © m_galathea
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![Marbled White 2 [Nick Sampford]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/49e905015ee4e39afd2b235e5929f806.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Marbled White 2 [Nick Sampford]") |
Photo © Nick Sampford
19-Jun-2004 |
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Description to be completed
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.
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.
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.
No similar species found.
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below. |
 | Darlands Banks LNR, Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit, Malling Down, West Yatton Down, Whitford Burrows |  | Bannerdown, Denbies Hillside, Ellerburn Bank, Lower Woods, Pewley Downs |  | Banstead Downs |  | Bentley Wood, Broughton Down, Chambers Farm Wood, Sutton Bingham Reservoir |  | | | Not rated | Ashampstead Common, Winsdon Hill |
This butterfly has extended its distribution over recent years and is not currently a priority species for conservation efforts. |
| Not Listed |  |  |
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
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.
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![Marbled White 2 [Nick Sampford]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/49e905015ee4e39afd2b235e5929f806.jpg "Marbled White 2 [Nick Sampford]")
![Marbled White - imago - Badbury Rings - 03-Jul-06 [Richard Hudson]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/82802bde4099fa8cdb04b0e4b9c3a18a.jpg "Marbled White - imago - Badbury Rings - 03-Jul-06 [Richard Hudson]")
![Marbled White - imago - Old Winchester Hill - 18-Jul-05 [Mike Duffy]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/cce16e459b27d922abbabda62100f724.jpg "Marbled White - imago - Old Winchester Hill - 18-Jul-05 [Mike Duffy]")
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![Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0254) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2158603e2ef856580802fd7a106dde88.jpg "Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0254) [REARED]")
![Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0255) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/aaf4a31348fb3b76abdd5e6a39c4c0bc.jpg "Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0255) [REARED]")
![Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 17-May-05 (4) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/990b166b780e48b82389fbf0beb57fa5.jpg "Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 17-May-05 (4) [REARED]")
![Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 17-May-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/7c3129d96a4b5366cd331b67588810c5.jpg "Marbled White - larva - Thatcham - 17-May-05 [REARED]")
![Marbled White - pupa - Thatcham - 22-Jun-06 (0347) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c4518a8a40f698927ec536faa3c196c5.jpg "Marbled White - pupa - Thatcham - 22-Jun-06 (0347) [REARED]")
![Marbled White - pupa - Thatcham - 22-Jun-06 (0348) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2f50897f8fb68bdc4551d61de3dd2fff.jpg "Marbled White - pupa - Thatcham - 22-Jun-06 (0348) [REARED]")
![Marbled White - pupa - Stockbridge Down - 23-Jun-90 [REARED] [Tim Norriss]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/3ec650468b48b2362508fcd07a65e220.jpg "Marbled White - pupa - Stockbridge Down - 23-Jun-90 [REARED] [Tim Norriss]")
