Marbled White

Special features: The only British butterfly with these distinctive markings. It is a black butterfly with white markings.

The marbled white's eggs hatch in late summer and the tiny, cream coloured caterpillars hibernate amongst vegetation until the following spring. When they emerge they feed on various meadow grasses.

Latin name: Melanargia galathea

Size: Wingspan approximately 55mms.

Distribution: Found mainly in south west England. Scarce elsewhere.

Months seen: June to August

Habitat: Fields, meadows and woodland rides, especially on chalky soil.