Marbled White (Melanargia Galathea) Female at Kingley Vale
Kingley Vale nature reserve has extensive areas of grassland and wildflower meadows, perfect habitat for Marbled White butterflies. Marbled Whites are more closely related to the Brown butterflies, than to the whites, but their black and white colouring and pattern are unmistakeable and unique amongst British species. Where the 'marbling pattern' on the males is entirely black and white, the darker shades are a yellowy brown on the female, as in this image.