Meadow

Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea)

Found mainly in the southern half of the UK, in the Midlands and the south-west preferring the chalk and limestone grassland. Marbled white butterflies are usually seen flying from July-August, sometimes in large numbers emerging once a year in a single brood.

The Marbled White butterfly has distinctive black and white markings on the on the upper-wings, the male also has black markings the under-wings, in the female they are light brown. Both sexes have eye-spots on the underside of the hind-wings.

Marbled-White (Melanargia galathea)- Male showing underwings

Quick Info

Name: Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Family Group: Nymphalidae, Browns.
Flight Period: July-August.
Habitat: Chalk or limestone soils with flower rich Grassy Slopes, Meadows, Roadsides Verges.
Adult nectar plants: Brambles, Common Ragwort, Thistles, Knapweed and others.
Caterpillar feeds on: Grasses like Sheep’s Fescue, Cocksfoot and others
Wingspan: around 50mm
Photographed: – 4th and 5th July 14
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes.

Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea) wings open rested on knapweed

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)Butterfly wings open

Flighty and active on bright sunny days, the Males are always busy searching for newly emerging females, breifly resting to take nectar from Brambles, Ragwort Thistles or Knapweed, their distinctive colouration makes these butterflies visible even in flight, making them stand out from some distance.

During broken sunshine they may be seen more leisurely, resting on tall stems of grasses or nectaring from wildflowers, although they will quickly take flight if disturbed.

Marbled-White Butterfly- Female showing underwings resting on Knapweed

Marbled-White (Melanargia galathea) Butterfly- Female showing underwings

Shrubs and Plants for a Butterfly Garden

Creating a butterfly garden

Creating a butterfly garden, or a garden for wildlife, can be done by choosing nectar rich plants and shrubs. These will attract butterflies, moths, bees and other beneficial insects to visit even the smallest of gardens. Planted and placed in a warm sheltered spot, they can be grown in the ground, in Patio pots, troughs, old buckets or washing-up bowls.

Habitat Loss

The loss of wildflower meadows, hedgerows, woodlands and the over use of chemicals in the countryside by intensive farming, has seriously effected the numbers of our butterfly species, creating a butterfly garden can help reverse this decline for some of our butterflies.

Choosing Plants

When choosing a selection of plants, if possible choose a mixture of both native wildflowers and cultivated varieties. These types of plants are often referred to as herbaceous perennials, biennials or cottage garden flowers they are usually colourful easy to grow and require little maintenance. Shrubs like Buddleia are also easy maintenance and a magnet for summer garden butterflies.

Peacock Butterfly, April Blackthorn Blossom

Peacock Butterfly, on Blackthorn Blossom in early Spring

Orange-tip Butterfly on wildflowering violets in early Spring

Orange-tip Butterfly on Violet Flower

There are many species of Native plants some of which are generally considered by gardeners as common weeds such as dandelions, buttercups, and daises. These hardy wild perennials are probably some of the earliest wild flowering plants and play an important role in early spring and will often continue to flower late into autumn.

Will butterflies breed in my garden?

If Peacock, Comma, or Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are visitors to your garden you can encourage them to breed by planting some Nettles. The Nettles are best planted in a tub or trough then buried in the ground, this will stop them from spreading around the garden. Carefully choose a sunny position near nectar plants, female butterflies can be quite fussy where they lay their precious eggs.

Why Early Flowering Plants so important to wildlife?

Spring flowering plants and shrubs provide a welcome nectar source, for butterflies, moths, bees and other insects awakening from winter hibernation. Butterflies like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstone will all benefit from a selection of well chosen plants in a carefully planned butterfly garden.