Marbled white butterfly

[nanila]

I'm currently in a new part of rural Worcestershire, UK, which happens to host a large population of marbled white butterflies. I've seen many a cabbage white, but these are new to me, and it's thrilling to see so many hovering above the grasslands.

This particular butterfly zoomed into the front porch this afternoon and straight into a spider web. I got to it before the spider did (sorry, spider) and carried it back outside. It sat on my finger for a while, which puzzled both of us, until I worked out that it still had its feet entangled in silk. I managed to disentangle it without causing any damage. It flew away, not very far, and spent some time cleaning its feet and legs with its proboscis before setting off back to the fields.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

It's a beauty! Sometimes one just has to rescue a beauty.

[nanila]

Exactly so! I couldn't leave it.

[chestnut_pod]

Such a lovely contrast with the rose petal!

[nanila]

Thank you, I thought so too. I had other photos that showed the wings more clearly, but I liked the colour in this one. :)

[shirebound]

You're a hero (sorry, spider)! What a lovely creature.

[nanila]

Thank you! I don't think the spider is going hungry as there are a lot of flies also available to it. :P

[cmcmck]

We see them a lot in Shropshire too.

Silly numbers of small heath on our walk today!

[nanila]

I didn't know how common marbled whites were until I looked them up. We don't see them at all in our area.

Lots of meadow browns here, too! I think butterflies in general are more abundant this year. It makes me wonder if it's related to the lack of vehicle traffic in rural areas over the lockdown.

[cmcmck]

Could be! Certainly the deer locally are coming closer to town as are the raptors.

[yourlibrarian]

Great pic!

[nanila]

Thank you!

[felis]

Lovely!

[nanila]

Thanks!

[turlough]

I've never seen a butterfly like this before. It's amazing!

Go you for saving the pretty butterfly!

[nanila]

I was surprised to learn how common it is in the UK. It is really lovely! And thank you. :)