Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 12002_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_5Jul08 | 12888_male_Drome_12Jul08 | 8084_female_Cote d'Or_8Jul07 |
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| 2269_female_Alpes de Haute Provence_1Jul06 | 6417_pair_Var_3Jun07 | 16564_female?_Var_23Jun09 |
In great numbers almost everywhere, sometimes in thousands, and probably the most common butterfly in France. Its numbers tend to obscure the fact that this is a very beautifully-marked butterfly, upperside and underside, especially the more creamy-white females. It is also quite a variable butterfly, the markings ranging from quite unmarked to heavily marked. There is a not uncommon form leucomelas in which the underside markings are greatly reduced, sometimes almost pure white. A close relative, Esper's Marbled White (M. russiae) occurs in parts of southern France (but not in Var), although I have not been lucky enough to see it.
12002: a male, based on body shape. Altitude 1580m.
12888: a male, based on the darker, more contrasting, markings c.f. 6417 below.
8084: a female, based on body shape. Altitude 320m.
2269: a female, an example of the variation of the unh markings. The enlarged version below clearly but unusually shows pale blue centres to the ocelli. Its close relative, the Western Marbled White (M. occitanica) also has blue in the ocelli, but it is normal for occitanica. Altitude 950m.
6417: a mating pair, the rather paler, browner, female on the left. Altitude 140m.
16564: probably a female based on the lightness of the markings. Altitude 450m.
12002_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_5Jul08
2269_female_Alpes de Haute Provence_1Jul06
