Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Butterfly Uk | Slide Mouse

These three species are all very common and widespread in hampshire and the rest of southern uk.

Gatekeeper meadow brown butterfly uk. The gatekeeper butterfly as its english names suggest the gatekeeper also known as the hedge brown is often encountered where clumps of flowers grow in gateways and along hedgerows and field edges and can be found where tall grasses grow close to hedges trees or scrub. The gatekeeper also known as the hedge brown is a golden butterfly that provides a welcome sight in the middle of summer when the fresh adults start to emerge. It is a butterfly of grassland hedgerows and woodland edges and can be seen feeding on wild marjoram bramble and ragworts. Gatekeeper as its english names suggest the gatekeeper also known as the hedge brown is often encountered where clumps of flowers grow in gateways and along hedgerows and field edges.

The gatekeeper or hedge brown pyronia tithonus is most commonly found in southern and eastern britain and coastal areas of south and south east ireland. Hundreds may be seen together at some sites flying low over the vegetation. It also occurs in parks gardens and cemeteries. It is also found in the channel islands but not in scotland nor the isle of man.

The gatekeeper is generally smaller and more orange with a row of tiny white dots on the hind underwings. Adults can be seen in large numbers flying low over the grass and flowers. The medium sized meadow brown is one of the commonest grassland butterflies on the wing in the summer from june to september. It avoids areas of short open grassland.

The gatekeeper butterfly is currently stable in the uk and is not a species of conservation concern. This butterfly spends much of its time basking with wings open when the sexes are easy to tell apart only the male has the distinctive sex brands on the forewings. The meadow brown is the most abundant butterfly species in many habitats. It is often seen together with the meadow brown and ringlet from which it is easily distinguished when basking or nectaring with open wings.

The gatekeeper and meadow brown are common throughout the new forest but the ringlet is scarcer. Arran brown u blue pansy a camberwell beauty m cassia s owl butterfly a comma r dark green fritillary r false grayling a gatekeeper r glanville fritillary r grayling r great spangled fritillary a heath fritillary r hermit a high brown fritillary r illioneus giant owl a indian red admiral a julia a large heath r large tortoiseshell m large wall a. Typical habitats are along hedgerows. Widespread and common throughout britain and ireland.

It even flies in dull weather when other butterflies are inactive.