Andrew Chick Ecology

The Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) is one of our most distinctive summer butterflies. Despite its name and appearance, it is actually a member of the brown butterfly family, although its striking chequered pattern of black and creamy-white makes it quite unlike its relatives.

Marbled Whites are typically on the wing from late June through July and into August, when they can sometimes be seen in impressive numbers. They favour flower-rich grasslands, chalk and limestone downland, roadside verges and other areas of tall, unimproved grassland.

Adults spend much of their time visiting flowers, with knapweeds, thistles and scabious being particular favourites. On warm sunny days they can be remarkably active, fluttering low amongst the grasses and flowers, while in duller weather they often sit quietly on flower heads with their wings closed.

The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses, including Red Fescue and Sheep’s-fescue. Interestingly, the female simply drops her eggs into the grass while perched on a stem, rather than carefully attaching them to a particular foodplant.

Where it occurs in good numbers, the Marbled White can be one of the highlights of a summer meadow. Its bold black-and-white wings are particularly striking against the pinks and purples of flowering knapweed and thistles — a wonderfully characteristic sight of high summer.