South Hill – Marbles Rock
The Somerset Wildlife Trust of South Hill is becoming a real favourite. Today I returned to find the marbled white butterflies were really rocking.
Marble Whites
Marbled whites are officially a brown butterfly – but in black and white. This makes them stand out against the summer grasses.
Marbled whites live in colonies. These colonies only need a small patch of grass such a road verge. So a reserve like South Hill though tiny is ample to support a healthy population of marbled whites.
There is also lots of grass clumps. The long grass protects their white round eggs that overwinter deep down and safe.
These butterflies have recently emerged and are waiting for there wings to dry out.
All the butterflies in a colony emerge about the same time. Large numbers suddenly appear then after a few weeks they disappear.