Marbled White |
Latin name - Melanargia galathea Flight period - June to August Wingspan 5.3 to 5.8 cm, 2.1 to 2.3 inch. The Marbled White is a medium-sized white butterfly of unimproved flowery grassland . Its distinctive black-chequered markings make it different from all other species found in the British Isles. It shows a marked preference for purple flowers such as Wild Marjoram, Field Scabious, thistles, and knapweeds. The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses - Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus). |