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Olympia Marble
Olympia Marble
Scientific Name
Scientific Name
(Euchloe olympia)
(Euchloe olympia)
The Olympia Marble is a medium-sized butterfly in the Family Pieridae (1). They are named after their resemblance to marble rock on the underside of their wings (2). In Central North America this species is found between the Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes region. In the east it is reported from southern Pennsylvania to the southern Appalachians (3). In Maryland, the Olympia Marble is ranked S2 and has only been reported in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties (4).
Identification
Identification
Euchloe olympia is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 1 3/8 – 2 inches (5). Their upperside is majority white with a black band on the forewing cell, while the underside of their hindwing is white with a yellow-green marbling. Additionally, the costal margin of the hindwings, have a pink-tinted band (6).
Larvae are 1 inch in size at maturity with a grayish-green body covered in raised, glossy black speckles, and short hairs with two yellow dorsal stripes, and one white spiracular line (1).
For more adult and larval images visit Carolina Nature by clicking here.
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
In Maryland, the Olympia Marble butterfly has a flight period from mid-April to mid-May (2) and will nectar from Bluet, Rockcress, and Violet (2, 7). Males can be found occupying hilltops awaiting females (8).
Eggs are laid on the buds of their host (Arabis spp.) (8). In Maryland, Lyrate Rockcress (Arabis lyrata) and Smooth Rockcress (Arabis laevigata) are the most common of the Arabis spp.. Once the larvae hatch they spend their days feeding on flower buds. Caterpillars pupate in a slim purple chrysalis and suspend development during hibernation (1, 5).
Habitat
Habitat
The Olympia Marble is found in Maryland's western most counties among shale barrens (1, 4, 7).
Kasecamp Shale Barrens, Allegany CountyPhotograph by Richard H. WiegandRetrieved from Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Larval Host Plant in Maryland:
Larval Host Plant in Maryland:
Rockcress (Arabis spp.)
Rockcress (Arabis spp.)
Photo by Joshua MayerUnder the license: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Lyrate Rockcress
Lyrate Rockcress
Distribution in Maryland
Distribution in Maryland
Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.
How can you help?
How can you help?
The spraying of chemicals and habitat destruction are the eminent dangers to the Olympia Marble (1). Recording butterfly sightings, collection of data, and gaining more knowledge on this species will help aid in the steps to conserving and protecting the habitats these butterflies need for survival.
References
References
- D. K. Parshall. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Eastern Region. 2002. Conservation Assessment For Olympia Marble Butterfly (Euchloe olympia). https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_054253.pdf.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Animal Fact Sheet, Olympia Marble. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/rte/rteanimalfacts.aspx?AID=Olympia%20Marble. Last accessed 30 July 2020.
- NatureServe Explorer. 2020. Euchloe olympia Olympia Marble. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.110821/Euchloe_olympia. Last accessed 2 August 2020.
- Maryland Biodiversity Project. Olympia Marble Euchloe olympia (W.H. Edwards, 1871) https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=497. Last accessed 30 July 2020.
- Butterflies and Moths of North America. 2020. Olympia Marble Euchloe olympia (W.H. Edwards, 1871) https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euchloe-olympia. Last accessed 30 July 2020.
- New York Natural Heritage Program. 2020. Online Conservation Guide for Euchloe olympia. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/olympia-marble/. Accessed July 30, 2020.
- Davis, L. and R. Smith. 2014. Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Checklist. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/butterfliesofmaryland_biological-summary_checklist.pdf.
- M. E. Toliver. 2020. Observations on Euchloe olympia (W.H. Edwards) (Pieridae) in a central Illinois sand prairie. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 74(2): 106–120.
© 2020 Price Lab for Entomology, Courtney Rogall
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