I have never seen one like this before, but apparently are in abundance here in natural fields in the South of England.
So with a field of Thistles to enjoy, this little fella (I know it is Male) was happy to pose for me!

The Marbled White is a distinctive and attractive black and white butterfly, unlikely to be mistaken for any other species. In July it flies in areas of unimproved grassland and can occur in large numbers on southern downland. It shows a marked preference for purple flowers such as Wild Marjoram, Field Scabious, thistles, and knapweeds. Adults may be found roosting halfway down tall grass stems.

This species is widespread in southern Britain and has expanded northwards and eastwards over the last twenty years, despite some losses within its range

Taken with a Pentax Optio RS1000 comoact camera -Macro.
Featured in Artists Universe Aug 2012