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Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

Not yet photographed by the community

Distinctive black-and-white chequered butterfly of grassland.

Species Profile

Amber List (declining due to grassland loss and agricultural intensification)

Lifespan: 2–3 weeks as an adult butterfly
Size & Weight: wingspan 42–52 mm
Habitat: Unimproved calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, and limestone meadows with abundant bird's-foot trefoil and other legume foodplants.
UK Distribution: Southern England, primarily from Dorset to Kent, with populations concentrated in the Cotswolds, Chilterns, and South Downs; resident with single annual generation.
Diet: Larvae feed on bird's-foot trefoil and related legumes; adults feed on nectar from various wildflowers.
Predators: Robins, wrens, and other small birds; spiders and parasitoid wasps targeting larvae.
Mating Season: June to August
Breeding: Females lay eggs singly on or near foodplants; eggs hatch in autumn and larvae overwinter before pupating in spring; single brood per year.
Behaviour: Marbled Whites are weak fliers that prefer to rest on vegetation rather than fly far, making them vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Males patrol grassland margins searching for females, often in loose groups. They are highly dependent on specific unimproved grassland habitats.

Did You Know?

•The striking black and white marbled pattern on the wings provides excellent camouflage when resting on dappled grassland vegetation.
•Unlike most butterfly species, female Marbled Whites scatter eggs while flying low over grassland rather than laying them directly on foodplants.
•The species has shown significant range contraction in the UK over the past 50 years due to the loss of traditional hay meadows and chalk grassland.
•Marbled Whites are an indicator species for high-quality unimproved grassland and are monitored closely by conservation organisations.
•The caterpillar is cryptically coloured and feeds nocturnally, making it difficult to detect in the field.

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