Melanargia is a genus of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Satyrinae (formerly family Satyridae).

The adults of this genus of satyrines are easily distinguished by their white wings with black veins and markings (hence the common name "marbled whites").

A peculiar phenotypic distinctiveness is also a dilated vein 12 at the base of the forewing.

Butterflies of genus Melanargia are widespread from Europe and north Africa to Japan.

The investigations on genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among Melanargia species have recognized three subgenera (Melanargia, Argeformia, and Halimede) and reclassified the genus in 20 species and relevant subspecies as follows Subgenus Melanargia Meigen, 1829 Subgenus Argeformia Verity, 1953 Subgenus Halimede (Oberthür & Houlbert, 1922)