Melanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758)  
Marbled White, Schachbrett (Schmetterling), Demi-deuil, Бархатница галатея, Գալաթեյա բազմակն 

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is distributed across major part of Europe, south Russia, Asia Minor and Iran. There is also an isolated population in Japan. There are some questions about intraspecific taxonomy, so Armenian population is preliminary considered as belonging to subspecies M. g. satnia Fruhstorfer, 1917, which inhabits primarily deciduous forests and woodlands, but occurs also in wet meadows, thus occupying elevation range between 800 and 2500 m a.s.l. The larval host plants vary within Gramineae: Phleum, Poa, Bromus, Elytrigia, Holcus, Dactylis, Triticum, and Agropyron. The Marbled White gives one generation per year and the flight period of the butterflies is from early June till mid August depending on elevation.

Population dynamics:
The species is quite common within typical habitat, and shows stable population trend for the period of 2003-2013 (p>0.05). Probably the high level of species adaptability and opportunities to switch between host plants make the species less vulnerable towards habitat degradation. However, the density of the species is noticeably lower in degraded forests of Aragats Mountain, rather than, for example in good forests of North-eastern Armenia. 

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions, however it was evaluated for the European Red Book as Least Concern. The assessment of the species' national conservation status also suggests it as Least Concern. The Marbled White's distribution range is partly covered by some Protected Areas and Emerald Sites, also its is represented in the Prime Butterfly Areas Lichk, Gyumorats, Kajaran, Gnisheek, and Artanish-Shorzha. At current there is no necessity for development of conservation measures, however it is recommended to continue its monitoring, especially in the areas of forestry enterprises. 

Photo: K. Aghababyan