Olympia Marble

Not of concern.

One yearly generation, with peak adult flight activity from mid May to mid June.

This is a species of the Great Plains, found in the southern Prairie Provinces south to Texas and east to extreme southern Quebec. There are also isolated populations in the Appalachians (Opler 1999).

There are three superficially similar marble species in the province. The Olympia Marble is unlike other marbles in that the green markings of the underside are quite reduced, with a banded rather than a blotchy appearance. This species is also restricted to prairie grassland habitat.

Grasslands and badlands of the prairie region.

The mature larva is green, striped with grey and yellow (Layberry et al. 1998).

The larval food plants are currently not known in Alberta; elsewhere, flowers and seeds of wild mustards are eaten, such as rock cresses (Arabis spp.) and Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) (Layberry et al. 1999). Nectar sources for adults have not been reported in Canada; in Michigan, Olympia Marbles can be found at the flowers of wild mustards (Brassicaceae), wild strawberry, and lupines (Nielsen 1999).