Marbled White. Photo: John Woodruff
A distinctive butterfly, generally only found in the countryside, rarely in gardens.
Where to see
- Habitat: Tall grass growing where there have been no recent disturbance or fertilisation. Marbled Whites have a preference for limestone and chalk areas, but can be found in other habitats, including roadside verges and railway embankments, woodland clearings, coastal grassland and waste ground. Look for the adult butterfly on purple flowers.
- Caterpillar foodplants: Grasses: Red Fescue, Sheep's-fescue, Tor-grass, Cock's-foot and Timothy.
- Best places: Widespread except in the east of Dorset, where Badbury Rings is one of your best chances of seeing it. In the south, Ballard Down and Durlston have high numbers, in the north there is Hod Hill and Cashmoor, and in the west they are numerous at Hog Cliff Southfield, Cerne Giant, Kingcombe and our Butterfly Reserve on Portland: Broadcroft Quarry.
Distribution map
Marbled White was recorded from these 1km squares in Dorset (2020-24).
- Key:
- 1 record
- 2-9 records
- 10+ records
When to see
On the wing in June and July, possibly lasting just into August
Sightings by month (last 5 years)*
This year and last*
What to look for
This is a very distinctive butterfly: no other in this country has this checkered pattern on its wings. The markings can even be seen during flight, as it has a slow wing beat.
Males and females are alike on the upper wings.
Female hind underwings tend to be brownish, though the hind upperwings remain black and white, with a pale brown leading edge.
The Red Fescue grass eaten by the caterpillar has been proved to be infested by a fungus which contains a chemical making both the chrysalis and adult Marbled White obnoxious to birds.
Photo gallery
Click thumbnails to view full-size images.
Marbled White. Photo: Mark Pike
Marbled White and Essex Skipper on a knapweed flower, showing the Marbled White a a fairly large butterfly. Photo: Orlanda Cooper.
Marbled White male: the underwing has a white background. Photo: Mel Bray.
Marbled White female - note the hind underwing has brown rather than black markings. Photo: Mark Pike.
Marbled White female. The upper underwing is black and white, like the upperwing, though with some brown on the leading edge, but the hind underwing is brown and white. Photo: Peter Lister
Marbled White female, showing the brown hind underwing in contast to the (little bit you can see of) the upper underwing. The brown leading edge to the upperwing is also clear. Photo: Ken Dolbear.
Marbled Whites mating: the female is the upper butterfly, with the browner markings. Photo: Ken Dolbear.
Marbled White mating pair from above. Photo: Ken Dolbear.
Marbled Whites can sometimes be found in some numbers: there are eight in this shot, plus a couple of Skippers. Photo: Rob Cook.