Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of Britain & Europe
 
Marbled White
Melanargia galathea LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily - SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Marbled White Melanargia galathea, copulated pair
 
Introduction
 
The very distinctive chequered black and white pattern of the Marbled White is quite unlike that of most other Satyrines, which tend to be patterned in shades of brown and orange. The markings are easily remembered by insectivorous birds, and recent evidence suggests that they are a form of aposematic ( warning ) coloration, which functions to advertise the toxic nature of the butterfly.
 
It is distributed across much of Europe, but is absent from Portugal, most of Spain, most of the Mediterranean islands, and Scandinavia. Beyond Europe it occurs in north Africa, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
 
There are 6 other very similar Melanargia species that occur in Europe with which the butterfly can easily be confused. In the French Pyrenees the butterfly is known to regularly hybridise with the Iberian Marbled White Melanargia lachesis, producing infertile offspring.
 
Marbled White Melanargia galathea, male, Stockbridge Down, Hampshire, England
 
Habitats
 
In Britain this species is confined mainly to southern and south-western counties of England. Scattered colonies still exist in Yorkshire, south Wales and the Midlands, but the butterfly's range has contracted considerably, due mainly to loss of habitat.
 
It breeds primarily on well drained chalk grasslands, often occurring in huge numbers on un-grazed or very lightly grazed sites where the grasses grow waist high. Such habitats include cliff-tops, undercliffs, steep south-facing slopes, unmown road embankments, railway cuttings, abandoned grasslands, and the sites of ancient Iron Age hill forts.
 
Smaller colonies exist in certain woodlands, where they breed along grass avenues, or in large clearings or permanent glades. It is scarcer on acid soils, but I regularly see small numbers on certain New Forest heaths.
 
Marbled White Melanargia galathea, copulated pair, Stansted Forest, West Sussex, England
 
Lifecycle
 
The Marbled White is single brooded throughout it's range, emerging in late June and throughout July.
 
Most butterflies attach their eggs to specific plants, but Marbled White females are unusual because they drop their eggs randomly onto the ground as they fly in and out amongst tall grasses. The eggs are globular and whitish. They are laid in July and August, and hatch after about 2 - 3 weeks.
 
After eating it's eggshell, and nibbling at fine grasses for a few days, the caterpillar enters hibernation, spending the winter months hidden at the base of grass clumps. It awakens in March, and feeds nocturnally on red fescue Festuca rubra and sheep's fescue Festuca ovina, usually resting by day in a head-downwards position on grass stems.
 
When older it hides at the base of grass clumps, emerging at dusk to feed on coarser grass species including cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum, and timothy Phleum pratense.
 
The mature larva is whitish-brown or yellowish-green, marked with a series of thin dark lines along the back and sides. In both forms the head is brown.
 
The pale ochreous or brownish chrysalis is formed on or just below the surface of the soil. The pupal stage lasts about 3 weeks.
 
Marbled White Melanargia galathea, female, Ballard Down, Dorset, England
 
Marbled White Melanargia galathea, male, Stockbridge Down, Hampshire, England
 
Adult behaviour

 

The Marbled White emerges at the very beginning of July, and remains on the wing until early August.

 

It breeds in large colonies, sometimes comprising hundreds or even thousands of individuals. The sexes mix freely and there does not appear to be any form of ritualised courtship or territorial behaviour.

 

The butterflies fly in a lazy fashion, advertising their presence as they flutter above and between tall grasses.

 

Both sexes nectar for long periods, mainly at knapweeds, thistles and bramble, but will also visit small scabious, hawkbit, ox-eye daisy, hemp agrimony, yarrow, wood spurge, and rosebay willowherb.

 

Marbled White Melanargia galathea, male, Wiltshire, England

 

They generally feed and rest with wings closed, but in late afternoon or on dull days can be seen basking with wings open, settled on low herbage or amongst tall grasses.

 

As dusk approaches, they move to settle on grass-heads, where they roost in a head-downwards posture, often with several insects of the same sex sharing the same grass-head.

 
                                                       
Almost every British and European species of butterfly is declining rapidly in numbers, due in most cases to loss or degradation of habitats.
 
You can help to reverse the decline by supporting conservation organisations which purchase and manage habitats as nature reserves, and which lobby government at local, national and international levels, often very successfully, to bring about changes in farming, forestry and urban development policies.
 
Please contact the conservation organisations for advice on how you can help protect British and European butterflies and their habitats. You may be able to offer practical help e.g. by monitoring butterfly populations or helping to manage nature reserves. Donations to these organisations enable them to employ ecologists and biologists. Even if you are unable to provide such help, merely having your name on the membership list can be a powerful tool for conservation organisations wishing to demonstrate the levels of support they have for their policies.

 

 
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
 
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