Meadow Brown Butterfly Ireland | Slide Mouse
A walk through the grass disperses clouds of the butterflies.
Meadow brown butterfly ireland. It is single brooded larval food plant. Meadow brown irish butterfly the tall grass in the bottom field has become a breeding ground for the meadow brown butterfly. It also occurs in parks gardens and cemeteries. This species can be found in all parts of the british isles with the exception of the most mountainous regions and shetland.
In the meadow grass. The caterpillars start feeding on meadow grasses in august and in the winter become dormant for a short period. The female is larger and brighter with a bright orange patch around the eyespot. The meadow brown is one of the most widespread and common species in ireland and is found in meadows and grassy areas.
The larvae feed on grasses. Variety of the finer grasses including fescues festuca spp. The meadow brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies and a familiar sight throughout the summer months. The meadow brown is the most abundant butterfly species in many habitats.
The gatekeeper is generally smaller and more orange with a row of tiny white dots on the hind underwings. It even flies in dull weather when other butterflies are inactive. It occupies the same habitats as the ringlet but is larger and can be seen on the wing in august and september as well. It is predominantly brown with one large eyespot on each forewing.
Its range includes europe south of 62 n russia eastwards to the urals asia minor iraq iran north africa and the canary islands. Widespread and common throughout britain and ireland. The meadow brown maniola jurtina or donnóg fhéir in irish is another common brown butterfly which can be seen in july. The medium sized meadow brown is one of the commonest grassland butterflies on the wing in the summer from june to september.
The meadow brown maniola jurtina is a butterfly found in the palearctic realm. This is a common species that can be seen in very large numbers in suitable habitats. This is a highly variable species with four named subspecies found in the british isles although the differences between them are often subtle. Hundreds may be seen together at some sites flying low over the vegetation.