Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
Woodwalton Marsh, Cambs.
16 June 2011
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
Woodwalton Marsh, Cambs.
16 June 2011
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
Woodwalton Marsh, Cambs.
16 June 2011
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
RSPB Canvey Island. Female
9 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
RSPB Canvey Island. Female
9 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
RSPB Canvey Island. Female
9 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
RSPB Canvey Island. Female
9 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
Magog Down, Cambs. Male
15 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
Sugley Wood, Cambs. Male
22 July 2012
Small photograph of a Marbled White Click on the image to enlarge
RSPB Canvey Island.
16 Aug 2012

The Marbled White, Melanargia galathea.

This species is not local to the Yeldham area. They can be found in the south of the county with a good population on Canvey Island. In Cambridgeshire I have seen a few on Magog Down near Cambridge, on the Devil's Dyke and at Woodwalton Marsh.

The Marbled White has only one brood per year. The larval food plants are various fine-leaved grasses, and it over-winters as larvae. The adults are on the wing from late June to early August.

In overcast conditions the butterflies perch for long periods in full view on grasses or other plants with the wings either closed or held flat open as in the first three photographs above. As soon as the cloud passes they become active, stopping briefly on flower heads to take nectar.

Internal links: Butterfly list . Main Gallery . Magog Down . Woodwalton Marsh

External links to the Marbled White pages at: British Butterflies by Steven Cheshire . UK Butterflies by Peter Eeles
B.M. Cockayne database for forms and aberrations.

Personal sightings:

16 June 2011. Woodwalton Marsh. 6 Marbled Whites.

3 July 2011. Devils Dyke. Newmarket Heath. 1 Marbled White.

15 July 2011. Magog Down. 3 Marbled Whites.

9 July 2012. West Canvey Marsh. On a dull day c. 20 by the car park, 13 others mostly near the sea wall.

15 July 2012. Magog Down. 14 Marbled Whites, mostly in the sheltered north-east corner.

17 July 2012. Magog Down. 9 Marbled Whites.

22 July 2012. Sugley Wood, Gamlingay. 30 + Marbled Whites.

22 July 2012. Therfield Heath, Royston. 23 Marbled Whites, mostly in the longer grass on the higher ground.

16 August 2012. West Canvey Marsh. Mostly overcast, late morning, 3 Marbled Whites, getting a bit faded.

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17 Apr 2013