Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)

Species description...

Picture of Marbled White
© Nick Greatorex-Davies

The Marbled White is a mostly southern species in Britain occurring in well defined colonies in tall open unimproved calcareous, or sometimes neutral, grassland where its main larval foodplant, Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), grows in abundance. The butterfly is expanding its range in Britain. (For further details on this species see http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/).


Further details...

Family: Satyridae

Status: Rapid increase

Status details:
Status since 1976 is Rapid increase with an increase of 113.5%
Status over the last 20 years is Rapid increase with an increase of 67.7%
Status over the last 10 years is Stable with a decrease of -22.8%

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Log collated index...

Log collated index plot

Species Log Collated Index Plot

This chart shows the index of abundance (LCI = Log Collated Index) over time. It shows fluctuations in populations from year to year, and is scaled so that the average index over the whole series is equal to 2 (horizontal line). For greater detail about how this index is derived, click on the green question mark above.

Trend description:
The collated indices have shown large fluctuations in abundance and there is a high degree of synchrony between many sites. Despite these large fluctuations the overall trend shows a significant increase in abundance. The butterfly is expanding its range in parts of Britain, probably in response to climate change, and at many sites there have been significant increases in abundance. In addition several sites have been colonised.

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Distribution...

Species distribution map

This map shows the distribution between 1995 and 1999. Data is derived from the Butterflies for the New Millenium dataset via the NBN Gateway (www.searchnbn.net).

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Phenology...

Phenology plot
Species Phenology Plot

Phenology plot

This chart shows the average number of butterflies seen on transects between Arpil and October. The black line gives average counts over the full BMS series (1976 to date) and the red line gives the average for the last year.

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Abundance...

Species abundance map Watch House Field & Penlee Battery Fowlescombe Farm Kerswell Down Aish Tor Portland Perryfields Corner Wood and Kiln Close Portland Broadcroft (DBC) Waterleat Greenscombe Wood - Ridge Portland Tout (DCC) Greenscombe Wood - Trust Luckett Wood Portland, High Angle Battery Stover Country Park Durlston Country Park West Winspit Valley Durlston Country Park East Coombe Bottom & St Boniface Down (Ventnor) Townsend Quarry (DWT) Bonchurch Down Yarner Wood Bovey Valley Radipole Lake Corfe Common Swanage Ruggadon, Trusham Corfe Castle Mound Lorton Meadows Lulworth Lake Lydford Haldon Forest Mottistone Down Studland Heath Culver Down Brading Quarries Salterns, Arne Coombe Track, Arne Wareham Walls Tadnoll Hethfelton Wood Dunsford Meadow Piddledown Common Parkhurst Forest Higher Hyde Heath (DTNC) Newton - Walters Copse Ham Common Firestone Copse Medina Valley Centre Parkhurst Forest 2 Parkhurst Forest 3 Oaker's Wood (Private) Holton Lee Whippingham (Woodhouse) Whippingham (fields) Stonebarrow Hill Iford Landfill Upton Heath North Kinson Common Stour Valley Hog Cliff Southfield Hog Cliff Powerstock Bridleway Powerstock North (DTNC) Crowlink Powerstock Railway Powerstock Poorwood Kingcombe Stones 'C' (DTNC) Sandy Point Hayling Island North Wyke Kingcombe Redholm 'B' (DTNC) Wootton Coppice Court Farm, Sydling St Nicholas Kingcombe Pound 'A' (DTNC) Ashclyst Forest Roydon Woods - Southern Fields Browndown North Denbies Landbarn B Roydon Woods - Calveslease Pamphill Moors (NT) Lankham Bottom Woodsmill Frog Firle Farm Sims Wood Avon Heath Country Park South Roydon Woods - Bakers Cerne Abbas Giant Lullington Heath Badminston Common Titchfield Haven 2 Titchfield Haven (Old) Staddon Moor Deep Dean Beacon Hill, Sussex Badbury Rings (NT) Avon Heath Country Park North Brownwich & Chilling Farlington Marshes Route C Farlington Marshes Route A West Moors (RAOC) Farlington Marshes Route B Moors Valley The Gillies Portsdown Hill East Bevendean B Bevendean C Portsdown (compartments 1-3) Portsdown Hill West Castle Hill Bevendean A Bracketts Coppice (DTNC) Wendleholme Milldown (NDDC) Arlington Reservoir Dunsdon Farm 2 Royal Victoria CP Hookheath Meadows Cissbury Ring Church Place Botley Wood 2 Swanwick NR Botley Wood 1 Alners Gorse Kingley Vale Hod Hill (NT) Malling Down Sovell Down (DTNC) Devil's Dyke (Valley) Deadmoor Common Fulking Down Devil's Dyke (Ramparts) Peartree Green Wimborne St. Giles Longlands Wood Hambledon Hill (NT) Newtimber Hill Black Cap Piddle's Wood (DTNC) Lydlinch Common (Private) Girdler's Coppice (DTNC) Woods Mill Levin Down Wolstonbury Hill Cashmoor New Route Cashmoor Catherington Down Lower Test - Testwood Park House Sandy Top, Fordingbridge Lower Test Marshes Testwood Lakes - Lakeside Blackdown Common New Little Breach West Dean Wood Stubhampton Bottom (Private) Moat Wood Itchen Valley Country Park 3 Copses Itchen Valley CP Meadows Ruttersleigh Common Jerry's Hole (DTNC) Mount Fancy East Mount Fancy Combined Itchen Valley CP Woods Mount Fancy West - Shutes Farm Fontmell Down Fontmell Down (new) Bishops Waltham Moors Buckland Wood Harting Down Claylands Hartley Field Martin Down Martin Down South Chilworth Oxenbourne Down Clubmens Down (NT) Torrington Commons Martin Down North Garston Wood (RSPB) Overland Copse Melbury Down & Wood Crowdhill Copse Witch Lodge Fields Martin Down Kitts Grave Zig Zag Hill, Shaftesbury Old Winchester Hill Thurlbear Quarrylands Emer Bog Fifehead Magdafen Wood (WT) Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve Duncliffe Wood (WT) Drayton Down Beacon Hill Hocombe Mead The Mountain (Meon Valley 3) Langford Heathfield Westbury House Park Ampfield Wood Manor Farm, Ebbesbourne Wake West Sedgemoor Hat Hill Middle Street Meadow, Salisbury Dean Hill (West) (NT) Ashford Hangers 2 Yew Hill Ashford Hangers 1 St Catherine's Hill Bushfield Camp The Dongas Ash Priors Common Bentley Wood Hawksgrove Pynes Farmhouse Bentley Wood - South Netherhampton Bentley Wood - Eastern Blackmoor Copse (WWT) Magdalen Hill Down Magdalen Hill Down extension Whiteleaze Bentley Wood - Barnridge Mounsey Crab Wood Bentley Wood - North Loder Valley 2 (Ardingley Reservoir 2) Springhill Farm Winnall Moors Loder Valley 1 (Ardingley Reservoir 1) Carymoor Environmental Centre Ashpark Wood Bentley Wood - Compartment Four Broughton Down 2 Noar Hill Ashdown Forest - Warren Car Park Dundon Beacon East Poldens Broughton Down Swan Barn Farm Millfield Conford Moor Alresford Hatch Hill Oaken Wood Ham Street Wood Stockbridge Down Burnt Oak Wood White Sheet Hill Quarry (NT) Wick Wood Orlestone Forest Leckford-J Porton Down Park Bottom Leckford-A Folkestone Escarpment Castle Hill Cheriton Hill Little Langford Down (WWT) Porton Dn.2 (Tower Hill Wood) West Down (Chilbolton) Alice Holt Ham Wall Boscombe Down O (WCC) Shapwick Heath Boscombe Down A (MOD) Bentley Station Meadow St Margaret's Bay Wye & Crundale Down Lydden Hinkley Point Power Station Hothfield Common Anton Lakes 1 Farnham Park Ebbor Gorge Hackhurst Down Upton Cow Down (MOD) Earlswood Common Noone Cottage Meadows White Down Coleford Butterfly Walk Cole Kitchen Pewley Down Hawkshill Common Denbies Landbarn Denbies Hillside Rodney Stoke Box Hill, Dukes Box Hill, Viewpoint Box Hill South Slope Stoke Camp Denge Wood Draycott Sleights Sheepleas Bratton Castle Earthworks (EH) Crabtree Box Hill, Zig Zag Wingate Hill Bartley Heath New 2 Broadham Down Headley Heath Bartley Heath Cross Lines Walk Bartley Heath New 1 Headley Warren Oxted Downs, Grangers Hill Oxted Downs, Whistlers Steep Pickett Wood Cheddar Cliffs Crook Peak Wrinsted, Torry Hill Ubley Warren Larkey Valley Wood Cross Plain Shute Shelve Hill Compton Hill Vagg's Hill Happy Valley Warren Bank, Torry Hill Biss Wood Coulsdon Common Juniper Hill Nore Hill Old Burghclere Lime Quarry Farthing Downs Green Lane Wood (WWT) FD New Hill Park Downs Kenley Common Riddlesdown Quarry KAC towpath, Bradford-on-Avon Hartmoor, Devizes RSPB Blean Woods Riddlesdown Polhill Banks, Sevenoaks Folly Farm Murhill Bank, Winsley (LNR) Pamber Forest Banstead Downs Chapel Bank Sandwich Bay Hutchinson's Bank Howell Hill Featherbed Lane Roadside verge The Gallops Silchester Common Burham Down Queendown Warren L.N.R Pewsey Down Redding Pit Quarry Newton Park Roundway Hill Covert (WWT) East Blean Woods Thornden Meadows Bowdown (Baynes/Bomb Site) Darland Banks Main Sand Point Middlehope Savernake Forest (FC) Prickmoor Wood, Chittoe Darland Banks West Mitcham Common B Wadswick Common Mitcham Common A Bannerdown Somerford Common extended Hosehill LNR Jubilee Country Park Congrove Field and Hanging Hill Palm Bay Wimbledon Common Avon Gorge 1 Avon Gorge 2 Moor Copse Nature Reserve West Yatton Down Barbury Castle Northward Hill Kings Weston Down Hartslock Foundation Park Browns Folly Minet Country Park Lardon Chase Severn Barrows Aston Upthorpe Downs Horsenden Hill - East Gutteridge Wood Belton Hills LNR Burnham Breeches (New walk) Leigh Marshes Webb's Wood (FC) Homefield Wood Somerford Common Somerford Common (old) Brent Reservoir Carmel College Marsh Roxbourne Rough Wetmoor Fryent Country Park Oxwich Ravensroost Wood (WWT) Brockwell's Farm Carrinton's New Farm Howbery Park Gomm Valley Gomm Valley Little Wittenham, Hill Farm Little Wittenham Nature Reserve Grimstone Down Butler's Hangings Aston Rowant (S) Buttlers Hanging Breakheart Hill Breakheart Quarry Aston Rowant (N) Stinchcombe C Stinchcombe A Stinchcombe B Uley Bury Prestwood Picnic Site Brickett Wood Rodborough Common Brush Hill, Princes Risborough Gobians Woodland Kings Langley Birklands Meadow Colney Heath The Warren New House Park Bunkers Park Long Dean Coombe Hill Smallford Lake Shrubhill Common Smallford Miserden (Bull Banks) Crong Nagshead Dancersend Wytham Waterperry Wood Shabbington Wood M40 Compensation Area Bayfordbury Tring Park Aston Clinton Ragpits Commons Nature Reserve Shabbington Wood (new) Oakley Woods Miswell lane Batch Farm Aldbury Nowers College Lake College Lake New 2003 Rothamsted Farm Pitstone Fen Ware Park Whitecross Green Wood Marshalls Heath Millhoppers Chestnut Avenue Crickley Hill Holcroft Springs Danesbury Park St Osyth Coppet Hill Whipsnade Downs Ravensgate Hill Lineover Wood Bishops Stortford Southern Country Park Highnam Woods Foxholes Dunstable Downs Knebworth Grendon & Doddershall Woods Dallow Downs, Winsdon Hill Blows Downs North Dallow Downs, Runley Woods Black Boy Field Blows Downs, Old walk Finemere Wood Blows Downs West Totternhoe Knolls Totternhoe Old Chalk Quarry Stevenage Bradgers Hill Prestbury Hill Galley & Warden Hills Pryors Wood Sundon New Chalk Quarry Sundon Old Quarry Manor Crescent Telegraph Hill Harlington Road Ewyas Harold Common Barton Hills Sharpenhoe Clappers Oughtonhead Highdown Blue Lagoon Standalone Farm Common Hill Chase End Hill Haugh Wood South Hazeley Wood North Bucks Way and Oakhill Wood Haugh Wood North Bredon Hill Malvern Hills South Eastnor Park North Broadway Railway Line Castlemorton Common Therfield Heath, Base of Church Hill (4) Therfield Heath, Church Hill (3) Therfield Heath, Top of Rifle Range (2) Therfield heath, Rifle Range Linford Wood Therfield Heath, Lancaster Hill (5) Melrose Meadow Brotheridge Green St Wulstans LNR Stonepits Park Coronation Pit Honeybourne Malvern Hills North Croft Farm Windmill Hill Cleeve Prior Priory Country Park Potton Wood Knapp & Papermill Loxley Meadow Bringsty Common Perry Wood Drayton Grafton Wood Horticulture Research Int. Hadleigh Great Wood and Dodd's Grove SSSI Trench Wood Harbury Spoilbank Hampton Wood 1 Monk Wood 1 Monk Wood 2 Nicky Line Ufton Fields 2 Ufton Fields 1 Briar Hill, Droitwich Spa Wolfhampcote Cutting Stockton Cutting Ruins Stockton Cutting Navigation Cutting Ryton Wood West Ryton Wood & Pool Ryton Landfill Knowle Hill Ryton Meadows Ryton Wood North Ryton Woods Landfill 2 Ryton Wood Landfill 1 Chaddesley Wood Malpass Spoilbank Bevill's Wood Monks Wood Elveden Center Parcs Uffmoor Wood Woodwalton Farm Woodwalton Fen Holtspur Bank LNR Castor Hanglands Barnack Hills & Holes Twyford Sanctuary Chambers Farm Wood Red Hill Nature Reserve Thorne Moors Bootham Stray Ellerburn Bank

Abundance

This map shows symbols for the mean abundance at transect sites, with the size of symbol reflecting the level of abundance. Means are over all years.


Coverage

In total, Marbled White has been recorded from 586 transects in the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Of these, annual indices of abundance have been calculated from 625 sites, with an average index of 92 individuals per site.

For 309 of these sites, Marbled White has been recorded well enough to calculate annual indices of abundance in 6 or more years, allowing trends to be calculated.

In 2006, 46111 individuals were recorded from 332 sites, producing annual indices at 277 of these.

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Site trends...