Butterflies
Skippers
Whites
Hairstreaks
Blues and Coppers
Admirals
Vannesids
Fritillaries
Browns
Large white superficially similar to the marbled whitefrom a distance
Map of area covered for records
Butterfly Survey 1976-2025
Marbled White
wingspan: 43 mm - sexes similar
The Marbled White belongs to the group of butterflies designated as 'Browns' and as such, like the Meadow Brown and Small Heath, the Marbled White inhabits numerous areas of open grassland and chalk downs that are pesticide free. The butterfly was absent in the Fackenden and White Hill areas until the late 1980's, with odd unconfirmed sightings. It was then introduced by Mike Brown. Later the butterfly began
Habit: Generally the butterfly has a modest 'fluttery' flight pattern, males being more active, but coming to rest quite frequently, where it can me mistaken for a member of the white family of butterflies. It is a 'colonial butterfly and often is seen numerously, in loosely linked groups lazily feeding or resting among the long summer grasses on which it lays its eggs. It generally roosts together with other Marbled white butterflies.
Single brooded - can be seen on the wing from early to mid Summer onwards, late records in early August
Larval Foodplant: grasses, eggs laid singly at random
Status/History: The butterfly was absent in the Fackenden and White Hill areas until the late 1980's, with odd unconfirmed sightings. It was then introduced by Mike Brown anticipating and confirming the butterfy present. From the mid 1980's this butterfly became common locally on Lullingstone Golf Course and other downland areas nearby. Later, presumably part of a general expansion from Surrey it occured at High Elms. Extraordinarily though, I found one present in a pheasant set-aside adjacent to Oakley Road, then a small colony on the fields edge near the Hayes Rugby club pitch. It is now spreading dramatically North into South East London, so can be seen almost anywhere in suitable areas of grassland. Similar redistributive occurences were also recorded during the early twentieth century by Chalmers Hunt in Butterflies of Kent.
WH - White Hill Shoreham, Fack - Fackenden Bank BC - Bromley Common, ELMFIELD Ha - Hayes --BN - Bromley North - Ey Eynsford - Lull - Lullingstone Golf Course Orp- Orpington BR - Bromley general area HE - High Elms
© Rodney Compton