This tiny butterfly is usually an early spring butterfly, coming around just as the pasqueflowers are beginning to wane, and usually found in about the same habitat.  Up close, it is not all-white, but really white with light blueish coloring on top, and striking lime green marbling undeneath.  Seeing only the two images separatly, a person could be fooled into thinking that these are two different butterflies altogether.  It has bright green eyes, whiteish antennae which are reminiscent of Q-tips, and a furry, body, blueish black on the back and whiteish on the front.  It is only 1 1/2 inches wide. 

The Olympia Marble uses Rock-cress as it's larval host plant, and can usually be found anywhere that the plant grows, in sandy, barren areas.  it's flight begins in late April and continues into June.  The catepillar feeds for 2-3 weeks and then makes it's chrysallis, where it will remain through the summer, fall and winter.

Wisconsin appears to have the highest population of Olympia Marbles, with Michigan coming in second.  Concerns for this species' population include habitat loss, gypsy moth eradication procedures, and too-hot controlled burning.

Thanks to wisconsinbutterflies.org and http://sci.windwolf.org/crex/bug/bf/cmOlyMar.htm for information about this butterfly.  Please visit these sites to learn more about the butterflies of Wisconsin and Crex Meadows.