Levantine marbled white

Melanargia titea

A large white and black butterfly with a wingspan of 50-60 mm, could be mistaken for other white butterflies but the wide black borders with white dots are diagnostic. There are three distinct subspecies in Lebanon. The Levantine marbled lives in a number of habitats, such as ruderal areas, open woodland, shrubby hillsides, grassland, and steppes. Host plants include meadow-grasses (Poa spp.) and knapweeds (Centaurea spp.). This butterfly flies April through August, the flight is slow.

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