Marmoris

Another hot, hot day in Peterborough. I needed a quieter day, and only went out for a few hours in the cool of the evening to do an initial walkover survey of a small, but rather special area of grassland at Woodwalton. As the sun was setting, the colony of marbled whites started roosting, concentrating themselves where the sun's rays lingered longest.

This is a real high summer butterfly, but it's name is rather misleading. It's not actually a 'White' (Familiy Pieridae) but is a member of the 'Browns' (Family Satyridae), the caterpillars feeding on grasses. Many of the old English names for this butterfly seem more appropriate, such as Marmoris or Marmoress (ancient terms for marbling), Our Half Mourner or Marbled Argus.

This species used to have a somewhat restricted distribution, and was once considered something of a rarity around Peterborough. Fortunately, it's undergone a local expansion, and can be found in many areas of roughish, calcareous grassland. It's definitely a very beautiful addition to the local fauna.