A Lone Marbled White in Suffolk

Alone Marbled White at Sudbury

by Rob Parker

At 10.20 on th~ morning of9 th July 1999, it was becoming warm at the edge of the Stour on Sudbury' s Friar's Meadow, where I

was watching the damselflies.

I was amazed to see a Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) fluttering amongst the tall vegetation at the water's edge. It flew obligingly dose to me, and I had no doubt at all about the identification. Unfortunately I was not carrying a net. It moved on with the light breeze, across the recently mown and waterlogged meadow. Two inches of water from the recent downpours impeded my pursuit and I lost sight of it just before the trees at the far side. I spent the rest of the morning searching the meadow for any sign of suitable habitat. The areas of rough, long grass were well frequented by Meadow Browns without any sign of an undiscovered Marbled White colony (impossible, surely), and the waterside verge was too narrow to be plausible, although it did contain thistle and other blossom which could provide a passing attraction. The opposite side of the river looked much more plausible, being a grassy slope protected at the top by woodland, although it was West facing, rather than East facing. Twice I pursued clumsy flying butterflies only to find a pair of Green-veined Whites flying in cop. The whites were visible at a greater distance than where I had lost sight of the Marbled White, and were mostly Green-veined, with two Small Whites and just one Large White. Also found along the woodland edge were Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals, a Comma, Ringlet and Essex Skipper. I did not get another look at my Marbled White.

The Marbled White has not occurred naturally in Suffolk for over a century, (Mendel & Piotroski, 1986) and it is not an insect that strays far from its established colonies. There are healthy colonies in Essex, the closest being near Witham, some 30 kilometres south of Sudbury. I wonder ... ? Perhaps this sighting is best treated, like one in King' Forest in 1979, as an introduction. In the afternoon I attempted to reach the far side of the Stour, and found that the hillside in question is on private land. It lies just inside Suffolk's administrative boundary, but is outside the biological recording area (VC25 & 26). If anyone is aware of any reintroduction attempts, or other records of unexplained strays, I should be glad to hear of them.

A check was made with Val Perrin, Essex BC Recorder, and he confirmed no Essex colonies exist anywhere near SudburyRichard Stewart.