Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

eviejean22 · Post by **eviejean22** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:06 pm

Hi everyone, I was sure this was a meadow brown while photographing it (I know the photos aren't ideal for identification - I nearly fell into the bush trying to get them!), but then I started to wonder afterwards if it was a gatekeeper as lots of sources online say that gatekeeper butterflies have two white 'pupils' on the eyespot, like this one does. Thanks guys!

https://imgur.com/a/YHuyEAI

Sorry if there's a better way to add photos, I'm new to this forum!

David M · Post by **David M** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:24 pm

Eviejean, that's a female Meadow Brown, albeit with much greater orange suffusion on the forewings than normal.

Post by **Padfield** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:32 pm

Most meadow browns have just one pupil in the eyespot but females in particular occasionally have two. It's not the norm, but not that infrequent either.

Normal male, with one:

Female with two:

Guy

eviejean22 · Post by **eviejean22** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 11:58 am

David M wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:24 pm Eviejean, that's a female Meadow Brown, albeit with much greater orange suffusion on the forewings than normal.

Great, thank you! It was my initial thought for sure, I just got confused when I read about them and Gatekeepers online. Thank you for clarifying!

eviejean22 · Post by **eviejean22** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 11:58 am

Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:32 pm Most meadow browns have just one pupil in the eyespot but females in particular occasionally have two. It's not the norm, but not that infrequent either.

Normal male, with one:

Female with two:

Guy

Ahh thank you for clearing that up! Brilliant

Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

Re: Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

Re: Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

Re: Gatekeeper or meadow brown?

Re: Gatekeeper or meadow brown?