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Melanargia galathea

Marbled White

Field Notes

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Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

 

Vaud, Switzerland, June 2006

 

Vaud, Switzerland, June 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2004

The butterfly is standing oddly because the white blob behind its abdomen is a crab spider that has a lethal grip. One of the spider's legs is visible on the flower head.

 

Isere, France, August 2004

 

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003

 

Hampshire, UK, June 2000
 

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003
 

Piedmont, Italy, June 2003

form leucomelas lacks underside black markings

 

This is found across Europe from southern England to north Africa and eastwards to Italy, Greece and Poland. It is missing from Spain where it is replaced by the similar Iberian Marbled White, M. lachesis. The undersides of the males have black markings, those of the female are an attractive brown. They are butterflies of open flowery meadow where they love to take nectar from purple Knapweeds.

 

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