Marbled White vs Red-bordered Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Marbled White | Red-bordered Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanargia galathea | Caria ino |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 46-56 mm wingspan | 28-35 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia, North Africa | South Texas through Mexico and Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Marbled White
A distinctive butterfly with bold black and white chequered wings that resembles no other European species. Despite its appearance, it is a member of the browns family, not the whites.
Did You Know?
Uniquely, females simply drop their eggs randomly into grass while in flight rather than placing them on food plants.
Red-bordered Metalmark
A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wing bases. It perches with wings spread flat.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely territorial, perching on sunlit leaf surfaces and darting out at any passing insect.