Marbled White
Melanargia galathea
National Status
Restricted range mainly in central southern counties with outlying colonies in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Population trend 10 years to 2016 +25%; since 1976 +50%
West Midlands Status
Stronghold is Worcestershite with continuing range expansion to the north and to the west.
Marbled White was recorded in 326 squares in 2026
10 Year Trend Analysis
Habitat
Tall unimproved grassland. Colonial but more mobile than some other grassland species.
Caterpillar Food Plant
Grasses including Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina), Timothy (Phleum pratense), Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) and Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum).
Refer to the Gardening for butterflies website by Joseph Shaffery for more details about caterpillar food plants and nectar sources.
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flight Period
One brood emerging late June peaking in mid-July and declining into August. In West Midlands, colonies generally have a short flight period of 2-3 weeks.
First/Last Sightings 2026
| First Sighting | Recorded by | Last Sighting | Recorded by |
| 12 May | Purser, David | 5 September | Jones, Sheila |
Distribution Map
Key
Total number of sightings per tetrad
Hotspots
Saltwells LNR in Dudley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire. Highgate Common, Ewyas Harold, Haugh Wood, Doward, Coppett Hill, Portway Hill, Woodgate Valley, Venus Pool in Shropshire.