Meadow Brown
Maniola jurtina
This record describes Maniola jurtina (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The Meadow Brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies and a familiar sight across the British Isles during the summer months. This is a brown butterfly with an orange patch on each wing surrounding a black eye spot with a single white 'pupil'. The amount of orange on the forewings and the number of black spots found on the underside of the hind wings can vary. Most commonly confused with the Gatekeeper, but they are easily distinguished by the eye spots. the Meadow Brown has a single 'pupil' whereas the Gatekeeper has two. 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. 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. The larvae feed on a variety of grasses. This butterfly is our most-widely distributed species and can be found in nearly all parts of the British Isles.
Wikipedia reference for Maniola jurtina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniola jurtina.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Satyrinae
- Tribe
- Satyrini
- Genus
- Maniola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
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.
Seasonal Activity
June to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
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. The larvae feed on a variety of grasses.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This butterfly is our most-widely distributed species and can be found in nearly all parts of the British Isles.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Maniola jurtina. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Meadow Brown (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Meadow Brown
What is Meadow Brown?
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Meadow Brown found?
Habitat: 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.
When is Meadow Brown active?
Meadow Brown: seasonal activity - June to September..
What is the life cycle of a Meadow Brown?
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. The larvae feed on a variety of grasses.