Balkan Marbled White

Melanargia larissa (Geyer, [1828])

Status

Description

A white butterfly with prominent black markings, easily recognisable in flight. The upperside has extensive black basal and marginal suffusion, the underside is white with finer black markings. Males and females are similar. It could only be confused with other members of the same genius, which are unknown in Corfu. 

Habitat Requirements

Forest clearings, meadows, roadsides and dry hillsides.

Larval Foodplants

Brachypodium distachyon, Brachypodium glaucovirens, Heath False-brome Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium retusum, Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre, False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, Annual Meadow Grass Poa annua, Bulbous Meadow Grass Poa bulbosa, Poa cephalonica, Poa compressa, Poa glauca, Poa infirma, Poa jubata, Poa maroccana, Poa perligularis, Poa timoleontis, Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis.

Observations

A strong flier, that stops to nectar often and frequently allows easy photography of its open wings, whilst basking.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Balkan Marbled White submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2023 15/05/2023 07/06/2023 23 days
2022 20/05/2022 30/06/2022 41 days
2021 12/05/2021 28/07/2021 77 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 52
2022 124
2021 1064
Grand Total 1241

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Balkan Marbled White (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023 submitted online since 1st January 2023 to 8th June 2023.

Flight Times for the Balkan Marbled White (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month based on all data submitted online since 1st January 2019 to 8th June 2023.

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Balkan Marbled White
  • Family: Nymphalidae (Rafinesque, 1815)
  • Sub-family: Satyrinae (Boisduval, 1833)
  • Tribe: Satyrini (Boisduval, 1833)
  • Sub-tribe: Melanargiina (Wheeler, 1903)
  • Genus: Melanargia (Meigen, 1828)
  • Species: larissa (Geyer, [1828])

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.