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The Meadow Brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies, and a familiar site throughout the summer months across the British Isles. This is a highly variable species, particularly with respect to the amount of orange on the forewings and the number of black spots found on the underside of the hindwings. Subspecies: insularis This subspecies occurs throughout the range of the species with the exception of Ireland, north-west Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly. Subspecies: splendida This subspecies is found in north-west Scotland and the Isle of Man. The forewings of this subspecies are slightly darker than those in the other subspecies. Subspecies: iernes This subspecies represents the population found in Ireland. This is the largest of the subspecies found in the British Isles. This subspecies differs from the subspecies insularis by sometimes having more spots on the forewings. Subspecies: cassiteridum This subspecies is found in the Isles of Scilly. This subspecies is similar to the subspecies iernes.
This butterfly is our most-widely distributed species and can be found in all parts of the British Isles, with the exception of the most mountainous regions and the Shetlands.
There is one generation each year and the flight period can be quite protracted, with adults being seen from the middle of June to the end of September in most years. Subspecies: insularis Subspecies: splendida Subspecies: iernes Subspecies: cassiteridum
The butterfly can be found in almost any grassy habitat, especially grasslands where the sward is of a medium height, where populations can reach thousands. Even in heavily-grazed meadows, the butterfly can usually be found around the field margins. Typical habitats include grassland, woodland rides, field margins, hedgerows, road verges and even overgrown gardens.
The primary larval foodplants are Bents (various) (Agrostis spp.), Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Downy Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Fescues (various) (Festuca spp.) and Meadow-grasses (various) (Poa spp.).
Adults feed primarily on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris), Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
The male is the most active of the two sexes and finds a mate either by patrolling, or by investigating any butterfly that flies past his perch. Females, on the other hand, are normally only active when nectaring or egg-laying and spend most of their time resting near the ground. Here they sit camouflaged, with wings closed and forewings tucked beneath the hindwings. When disturbed, they raise their forewings to reveal a large eye spot that must appear somewhat threatening to any predator. Both sexes typically roost on low vegetation, within tall grass clumps, but may also use bushes, trees and hedges. Early morning is a good time to see this species, as it sits with its wings outstretched, warming up in the early morning sun. Once warmed up the adults take to the wing and will even fly in dull weather, including light drizzle, so long as the temperature is sufficiently high. Both sexes are avid nectar feeders, and use a variety of nectar sources, especially Knapweed, Thistle and Bramble. Courtship between male and female is brief. The male showers the female with scent scales from his sex brands which act as an aphrodisiac that seduces the female and mating quickly follows. After a couple of days the female starts to lay her batch of several hundred eggs. For some unexplained reason, this species occasionally pairs with other species, such as the Gatekeeper, although no offspring result. Subspecies: insularis
Subspecies: splendida
Subspecies: iernes
Subspecies: cassiteridum
Description to be completed
The spherical eggs are light brown with dark brown blotches, turning grey before hatching. They are laid singly either on the foodplant or nearby vegetation and are occasionally simply ejected into vegetation by a perching female. A bout of egg laying often results in several eggs being laid in the same vicinity. Eggs hatch in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on temperature.
After hatching, the brown larva eats its eggshell, gradually turning green as it feeds on grasses. This species overwinters as a larva, hidden away at the base of a grass clump, but will continue to feed if the weather is warm enough. Young larvae feed by day, although more mature larvae tend to feed at night resting head down on a grass stem during the day, deep in the vegetation. The larvae are sensitive to any vibration, and will fall to the ground if disturbed. There are 5 moults in total.
The pupa is formed low down in vegetation, suspended by the cremaster that is invariably attached to the old larval skin. This stage lasts between 3 and 4 weeks.
GatekeeperDescription to be completed
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.
This butterfly is stable throughout its range and it is not, therefore, a species of conservation concern.
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
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![Meadow Brown - imago - Ardnamurchan - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/3963993d09de98f30e0ab19912d9b464.jpg "Meadow Brown - imago - Ardnamurchan - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
![Meadow Brown - imago - Craggagh, Clare - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/845444838bc0c98b9f68cf03bd074733.jpg "Meadow Brown - imago - Craggagh, Clare - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
![Meadow Brown - imago - St Marys, Isles of Scilly - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/73dc862faaf0baa2245fdc9fb62c6ea9.jpg "Meadow Brown - imago - St Marys, Isles of Scilly - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
![Meadow Brown - aberration - Bannerdown - 02-Aug-05 (2) [Graham Smith]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/4cc24813f703492ef2484030975da258.jpg "Meadow Brown - aberration - Bannerdown - 02-Aug-05 (2) [Graham Smith]")
![Meadow Brown - aberration - Bannerdown - 02-Aug-05 [Graham Smith]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/86b4f3a48dedceedc52ee956ca3d4987.jpg "Meadow Brown - aberration - Bannerdown - 02-Aug-05 [Graham Smith]")
![Meadow Brown - aberration - nr Bathampton - 09-Aug-06 [Simon Crampin]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/ca05dade56012e480d7c212ca814577b.jpg "Meadow Brown - aberration - nr Bathampton - 09-Aug-06 [Simon Crampin]")
![Meadow Brown - aberration - Unknown location - 27-Jun-07 [Mike Eccles]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/9b933dce40a36d2e8ec800258db79485.jpg "Meadow Brown - aberration - Unknown location - 27-Jun-07 [Mike Eccles]")
![Meadow Brown (m) ssp insularis ab anommata (Verity 1904) 100dpi W Green Wood 080729 9247 [David Newland]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c43104063ad2d85301999cd5a3281f39.jpg "Meadow Brown (m) ssp insularis ab anommata (Verity 1904) 100dpi W Green Wood 080729 9247 [David Newland]")
![Meadow Brown - ovum - Godrevy, Cornwall - 22-Jul-05 [Colin Baker]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/361b4ef9312d43911dc84178e97556ce.jpg "Meadow Brown - ovum - Godrevy, Cornwall - 22-Jul-05 [Colin Baker]")
![Meadow Brown - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/0ad39fa352ef4e83ffc9b04f5cae2cf6.jpg "Meadow Brown - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/3d6cbc98f4e18a79aeb8db86189dd2ff.jpg "Meadow Brown - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c453df05f754995401e7252044866a58.jpg "Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (3) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c4585ee08d162c2643c2e1a445ed8a1b.jpg "Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (3) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (4) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/df5e73b53f638ddfe2f2e0635069a913.jpg "Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date (4) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/00b8a32167da70820e2564449c218efd.jpg "Meadow Brown - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Meadow Brown - pupa - Bulford Ranges - 10-Aug-98 [Tim Norriss]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/8a67667990557b142c34c5d30454e9b1.jpg "Meadow Brown - pupa - Bulford Ranges - 10-Aug-98 [Tim Norriss]")
![Meadow Brown - pupa - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/b4700c6575d8d96fe261b7a65791c7d8.jpg "Meadow Brown - pupa - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
