Marbled White vs Square-spot Rustic
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Marbled White | Square-spot Rustic |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanargia galathea | Xestia xanthographa |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 46-56 mm wingspan | 32-38 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Gardens |
| Diet | Omnivores | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia, North Africa | Europe |
| 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.
Square-spot Rustic
An extremely common autumn-flying moth with a diagnostic square stigma on the forewing. One of the most abundant moths in British gardens. Larvae feed on grasses.
Did You Know?
Often the single most abundant moth species in garden moth traps during September.