Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

Common Summer Butterfly in Britain of open countryside.

Caterpillars are a lime-green colour, with a dark green line running down the middle of their back.

The Larvae feeds on various grasses but particularly Sheep's Fescue.

In these medium-sized butterflies the upper side of the wings is decorated with white and grey-black or dark brown markings, but it is always grey-black or dark brown checkered in the basal and distal areas.

The underside is similar to the upper side but the drawings is light grey or light brown.

The Males and the Females are quite similar, except that some Females may have a yellowish nuance on the underside of the wings. 

Flight period is July-August.