Sounds like they could be a rare aberration. It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae.A similar species is the meadow brown; the two species can be difficult to distinguish with closed wings since the underwing markings are very similar.However, the gatekeeper tends to rest with its wings open, whereas the meadow brown usually rests with its wings closed. Print view; Search Advanced search. A gatekeeper and two meadow brown butterflies feeding together on ragwort. Where the Meadow Brown has one white spot in the centre of the black eye-spot on the upper wing, the Gatekeeper… Gatekeeper/Meadow Brown? Similar Images . Add a Comment. Gatekeeper or meadow brown? The Meadow Brown is the most abundant butterfly species in many habitats. Those with finer leaves such as fescues (Festuca spp. However, the Gatekeeper is not a difficult butterfly to identify. This is the parasitic mite Trombidium breei. Gatekeeper butterflies on Ragwort. Meadow Brown. This butterfly can only be confused with a female Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina. Photo: Amanda Scott A similar species is the Meadow Brown; the two species can be difficult to distinguish with closed wings since the underwing markings are very similar. You can either register for a community profile, or sign in with your Facebook account by clicking the button below. Of these three butterflies, the Gatekeeper is probably the most attractive with its bright orange/brown wings fringed with a wide earthy/grey brown and distinctive black and white eyespot. British butterflies, butterflies, butterfly, Comma, Common blue, Gatekeeper, Large skipper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Six-spot burnet, Small skipper, Small white, Speckled wood. This was on Haresfield Hill in the Cotswolds. This butterfly can only be confused with a female Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina.However, in comparison it is much smaller and overall a much brighter orange. This species can be found in all parts of the British Isles, with the exception of the most mountainous regions and Shetland. It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. Gatekeeper butterflies on Ragwort. A now rarely-used name for this species is Small Meadow Brown, reflecting the similarity in appearance with its larger cousin. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. However, the Gatekeeper tends to rest with its wings open, whereas the Meadow Brown usually rests with its wings closed. It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is quite similar to the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). The Gatekeeper is generally smaller and more orange with a row of tiny white dots on the hind underwings. I was mystified by the dots but thanks to Google I found your post. With open wings, Gatekeepers are best identified by looking in the black eyespot at the tip of the forewing: within it are two small white dots, whilst the Meadow Brown only has one white spot there. The Meadow Brown is larger than the Gatekeeper and less orange. One with the wings open and another of the underwings would be best for a positive ID. Tel: 01929 400 209Email: info@butterfly-conservation.orgCharity registered: England & Wales (254937). It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. Its two main identifying features are the single white spot in its black eyespot (Gatekeeper has two) and the small dots on its hind underwings are black, not white, although these may be missing or up to five in number. Add a Comment. Hundreds may be seen together at some sites, flying low over the vegetation. The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) sometimes called the Hedge Brown is a common butterfly in the United Kingdom. Similar species and subspecies. Gatekeeper/Meadow Brown? 0 comments Be the first to comment on Gatekeeper And Meadow Browns. Ringlet Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Woodwalton Fen (Cambs),July 2019. Meadow Brown (female/upperwing) - Pete Withers, Meadow Brown (male/upperwing) - Tim Melling, Meadow Brown (male/upperwing) - John Money, Meadow Brown (young caterpillar) - Gilles San Martin, Meadow Brown (caterpillar) - Andrew Cooper, Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468). It’s not that easy to see at this resolution but there are another two. When viewed from above, it can be seen that each of the forewings has a small black spot near its tip, usually containing two tiny white dots, while each hind wing has a similar spot, but with only a single white dot. As far as I can tell as long as the butterfly does not get overly infested they do not seem to cause any lasting harm. It is often seen in association with Meadow Brown and Ringlet. Gatekeepers galore! Plus, you are much more likely to find it like this, wings wide-open, basking on a leaf in a hedgerow soaking up the sun. Similar species are the gatekeeper (which prefers to rest with its wings open) and the small heath (which is smaller). robbojansnaturetrek.blogspot.co.uk. Small Heath I cought two of them today in my polytunnel so had the chance to have a really good look at them before releasing them. Add a Comment. Meadow Brown Gamlingay Wood (Cambs), July 2018 (Maniola jurtina) Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina) Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina), Monks Wood (Cambs), June 2020. Meadow Brown Wing Span Range (male to female): 50-55mm. Gatekeeper and meadow brown. This is a brown butterfly with an orange patch on each wing surrounding a black eye spot with a single white 'pupil'. It may also show small white dots on the upper hindwing. It is one of our most widespread species, but many colonies have been lost due to agricultural intensification. Gatekeeper normally has 2 white dots in the black pupil & white spts on the under hindwing. are preferred, but some coarser species such as Cock's- foot (Dactylis glomerata), Downy Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens), and False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) are also eaten by larger larvae. The two Black eye spots suggest the latter but the underwing seems more like photos I see of the former. 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. 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 also has double pupils in its eye spots. Of these three butterflies, the Gatekeeper is probably the most attractive with its bright orange/brown wings fringed with a wide earthy/grey brown and distinctive black and white eyespot. Reply. The gatekeeper top left and right and bottom right. All the way to Colwyn Bay and I see the same butterflies I see in Fishers Green. Is this a different type of butterfly or some sort of aberation? It’s actually a Meadow Brown! ... #146353098 - gatekeeper butterfly in summer on thistles in meadow southern.. July. Gatekeeper or meadow brown? ( Log Out /  However what had not occurred to me before is that some … A gatekeeper and two meadow brown butterflies feeding together on ragwort. If you are lucky you may even find one of the heavily spotted multiocellata variations which can be very pretty indeed. The Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown as many people prefer to call it is most often found as these names suggest in gateways and hedgerows. The black eye spot on the upper wings has two characteristic white 'pupils'. It is often seen together with the Meadow Brown and Ringlet, from which it is easily distinguished when basking or nectaring with open wings. Scotland (SC039268), Website design & development by Headscape, Double your donation for one week only in the Big Give, Wing Span Range (male to female): 50-55mm, Countries: England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) sometimes called the Hedge Brown is a common butterfly in the United Kingdom. britanniae. I’m a novice at this so maybe completely wrong but…….on the allotment over the past few weeks I have regularly seen butterflies that look exactly like a Gatekeeper but they have no white dots in the black spot on their wings. Would be best for a positive ID less orange Maniola jurtina ) its spots. Sometimes called the Hedge Brown is the most abundant butterfly species in many habitats single white 'pupil ' to with. Small heath ( which prefers to rest with its larger cousin, flying low the... 209Email: info @ butterfly-conservation.orgCharity registered: England & Wales ( 254937 ) seen in association with Brown... 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